THE WHIPPER-IN 71 



the ancients, would reanimate his pursuers with certainty of 

 conquest." 



Another very able writer — indeed we think about the best 

 we know on the real essence of hunting, scent and trusting to 

 hounds — who used to write in the " New Sporting Magazine " 

 under the signature of " Thistle-whipper," also bears testimony 

 to the importance of a good Whipper-in, and to the superiority 

 of Tom Ball in that line : — 



"I am decidedly of opinion," writes he, "that the success 

 of a pack of foxhounds is more dependent on the exertions of 

 a good Whipper-in than on the Huntsman, and that a North 

 American Indian would be excellent materiel to form one. 

 How often have I witnessed Wells, the Oakley Huntsman, 

 when his hounds were approaching a cover in which they were 

 likely to change, take off his cap, and turn his ear to catch 

 Tom Ball's holloa on the other side, and when he heard it, dash 

 to the head of his hounds, catch hold of them, and gallop 

 round to it." 



This gentleman " Thistle-whipper," if we mistake not, was 

 the author of the " Life of a Foxhound," published in the " Old 

 Sporting Magazine." 



No one can read his papers without feeling that they are 

 the productions of a real sportsman, a real Imnter, which is, 

 perhaps, a more determining appellation than that of " sports- 

 man," which, with "sporting man," may be assumed alike by 

 the foxhunter and the thimble-rigger. Being an observing man 

 himself, " Thistle-whipper" noted observation in others. Take 

 the following as an instance : — 



" To show how much more observant of little things some 

 men are than others," writes he, " I was standing with about 

 twenty men in a riding, while the hounds were drawing and 

 had drawn a great part of the wood. ' No fox here to-day,' 

 said one. ' Yes, there is a fox moving in that young plantation,' 

 said another, ' and you will see him cross,' and two minutes 



