THE HUNTSMAN 41 



he is now going to draw, considering what is the difference in 

 the day, and a hundred other things, " too numerous to insert 

 in a handbill," as the auctioneers say. Young gentlemen in 

 jackets, and, indeed, middle-aged ones in new scarlet coats, 

 must not, therefore, take it amiss if Huntsmen become strangely 

 monos3'lIabic after leaving the meet, nor must they set them 

 down as grumpy and ill-natured if they don't laugh at their 

 wit. 



With the reader's permission we will take another slice of 

 Smith — rather fatter, too, than the last. " That a Huntsman 

 should be a good rider," says he, " is proved by everj' check the 

 hounds come to when he is away ; for even when he is present 

 he will have enough to do to prevent over-riding ; but unless he 

 can ride at head, and see the very spot on which the}' throw up, 

 he will be puzzled to know who of those up to apply to, and 

 must often use his own judgment ; in short, the greatest use he 

 can be of, when on a good scent, is to prevent men doing 

 mischief; therefore he must have nerve to ride well up, and 

 equal to any man in the kingdom ; for, unless he can be forward 

 enough to look men in the face and request them to hold hard, 

 he may ride behind and call after them till he is hoarse, and 

 they will not turn their heads, probably believing that jealousy 

 alone is the cause, and they go the faster for it ; but, if he is in 

 his place, none but a madman will do mischief if requested to 

 pull up : even the hard riders from the universities (that is, if 

 they can stop their horses) will do so." 



Some Huntsmen are far greater fidgets about their hounds 

 than others, both on the road and in the field. It is doubtless 

 advisable always to keep hounds clear of horses ; but as there 

 is generally some gentleman who will "talk to the man at the 

 whe2l," and as no one likes to be last, even on the road, the 

 consequence is the field will crowd to the head. Some Hunts- 

 men have their hounds all huddled round their horses' heels, 

 others will give them as much line as a regiment of guards, but 



