158 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



you may draw blank till nearly dark, and when you 

 have found, all the men who were so very urgent 

 for you to give up your first and find a fresh one, 

 have left you to hunt alone, although you did it to 

 oblige them, as your hounds had done a good day's 

 work, instead of killing your first by perseverance. 

 Besides, the recovery of a good fox in a brilliant run 

 makes a good finish, and is enjoyed much more by 

 every one than finding a second when horses are 

 half tired. There is httle chance of doing much 

 with an afternoon fox, when the mettle is taken 

 out of your pack in the morning ; and a huntsman 

 must take care not to beat his pack too often, or a 

 repetition will make any pack slack. 



When a huntsman is requested to di-aw for a 

 second fox late in the day, it would be a fair 

 question to put, " Gentlemen, we have had hard 

 work lately, and have some distance home ; but if 

 I do find, will you promise not to leave me till it is 

 finished ? " 



It is no uncommon thing to hear it said that 

 halloos do more harm than good. This in some 

 measure is quite true, and at times they are a great 

 nuisance ; but there are times when a man would 

 give half he is worth for one, and then, when it is 

 so valuable, few men have coolness enough to take 



