136 FOX-HUNTING 



through carelessness and ignorance — in 

 some riding-men the latter quality seems 

 invincible. I knew one, a regular follower 

 of hounds, who went out with Lord Zetland's 

 and finished with the Hurworth, without 

 ever discovering that he had changed 

 packs. Such good fellows as the followers of 

 hounds on foot ought to receive the fraternal 

 welcome of their mounted colleagues in the 

 field — whilst a kind word, instead of choice 

 Billingsgate, will do more than restrain the 

 ignorant sinner, and tend to his better 

 understanding of what is required of him. 

 Every man, as long as he respects the rules 

 of the game, has a right to be there. It 

 occurs to me, as I turn over the leaves of 

 my hunting diary, that I was not always 

 so patient with the footmen, as, for instance. 



