42 THE HUNTING FIELD 



perhaps the best course is to keep them together in a crowd, 

 and give them room when alone. 



We are not, however, going to set up to teach Huntsmen 

 their busmess, fearing we might get the rebuke Naylor, the 

 York and Ainsty Huntsman, administered to Nimrod, when he 

 said "he had forgotten more than Nimrod ever knew''; but 

 there are a few observations of Mr. Smith, himself a gentleman 

 huntsman of no small celebrity, that may be administered like a 

 cordial ball without ruffling the coat. Here is one. " There is 

 nothing more disheartening to a field of sportsmen than for a 

 Huntsman, or Master of Hounds, to trifle with them hy prctend- 

 ing to draw for a fox, when it is evident they do not intend to 

 let the hounds find one if they can help it, by taking them 

 through the parts of a cover quickly where there is no laying, 

 although there is good on the other side, which they avoid, and 

 it would be a certain find if they would let the hounds draw it ; 

 or probably missing other sure places, and drawing unlikely 

 ones, until their time is spun out that they may go home."' 



Of course there are days — windy ones, for instance — or days 

 when few sportsmen are out, on which it is desirable to shut up 

 as soon as possible ; but in these cases it is always well to give 

 the " regulars " the hint, by doing which Huntsmen will not 

 only save censure, but the retirement of the forces will materi- 

 ally aid their retreat with the hounds. There is a discretion, 

 however, in all this, which shows the man with the head from 

 the man without. Tom Babbleton would tell all the country 

 that they merely took the hounds out for show, while Sir Rasper 

 Smashgate, or old Peter Pigskin, would acknowledge the pro- 

 priety of the step and go home at once. Few sportsmen like to 

 leave hounds while a chance of sport remains. Here is another 

 hint. " When a Huntsman is requested to draw for a second 

 fox late in the day, it would be fair to say, ' Gentlemen, we 

 have had work lately, and have some distance home ; but if I 

 do find, will j-ou promise not to leave me till it is finished ? ' " 



