146 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



throws his hounds into a cover, through which he 

 cannot ride, and is obhged to keep outside. As 

 soon as the hounds are in, away he trots round the 

 outside, thinking that by getting to the opposite 

 side of the cover he will be able to draw them 

 through by his voice ; but the consequence is that 

 three parts of the pack, hearing him trot away, turn 

 their heads and follow outside, and are apt to be on 

 the watch for it ever afterwards. Had he gone 

 steadily on, though outside, they would have drawn 

 it properly. That hounds should be apt to dread 

 being left behind is not much to be wondered at, 

 considering the quickness with which they get away 

 after their fox. 



When hounds are not in the habit of drawing 

 furze (in the upper countries called gorse or whins), 

 they will draw it best in the morning, when there 

 is a drag into it ; and by going round the cover 

 quietly they will feel it, and go well in. By going 

 on round it, the hounds will also find all the open 

 parts and more readily get in, than if the huntsman 

 rides up to one side only, and then tries to force 

 them to go in ; than which nothing has a more 

 disgusting effect. 



In large covers it often happens that several 

 foxes are on foot at the same time, and there is 



