Fox-hunting 39 



It is obviously a most desirable thing that 

 the huntsman should be as much as possible 

 with his hounds during a run ; one great 

 reason for it being that he will then be able 

 to see for himself, in the event of a check, 

 ivhat it is that has turned them — they can't 

 tell him when he comes up ten minutes after- 

 wards. 



Probably no living creature thoroughly 

 understands that great mystery Scent, except 

 the fox himself ; and this knowledge he shows 

 at every point of the game ; never more so 

 than when dead beat and unable to trust 

 any longer to his speed and stamina for 

 safety. When, in addition to this, it is re- 

 membered that, in his own country, there is 

 probably not an inch of it unfamiliar to him, 

 that he can swim like an eel, is as fast as a 

 race-horse, and as cunning as a member of 

 the Anti-Gambling League ; when, I say, we 

 consider all this, it will be readily conceded 

 that huntsman and hounds must " get up 

 very early in the morning" to circumvent 

 him ! 



