152 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



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 beUeving 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. But if a huntsman feels obUged to 

 speak on these occasions, it should be at them 

 rather than to them ; thus — " Hold hard ; pray, 

 black horse, hold hard ! " Few men like to be 

 attacked by name, even when they have done mis- 

 chief, nor does a huntsman feel comfortable if he 

 has been led to speak sharply in the heat of the 

 chase ; for, on second thoughts, he will recollect 

 that it was the ardour which he most Ukes to see, 

 that led them on. 



It is not only right that a huntsman should keep 

 with his hounds in the open, but it is of the greatest 

 consequence for him to do so when his hounds are 

 running in cover ; particularly if the fox has been 

 hunted, and at all beaten. He must not allow 



