HUNTSMAN 159 



the best means of profiting by it, by riding with his 

 hounds up to the spot, and coolly, distinctly, and 

 most dehberately inquiring where the fox was seen — 

 the identical spot, if possible — which way he was 

 going, where he came from, and how long since ? 

 For obvious reasons, the person who halloos is over- 

 anxious to tell his tale, and if hurried will point out 

 so-and-so, scarcely knowing what he is about. 

 Besides this gives the hounds time to get their 

 wind, and put their noses down, instead of flying 

 beyond the scent, or taking the scent-heel ; and if 

 the time does not agree, which is often the case, 

 though the question is not even asked, the huntsman 

 can then leave it, and return ; for by going off with 

 the scent at once, he would be getting on one, either 

 fresher or staler than that he was hunting. It must 

 be a very young hand who has not found out this, 

 but old heads forget it. 



Also when a huntsman takes his hounds to a 

 halloo, where a fox has crossed a ride in cover, he 

 should, on ascertaining the spot, pull up ten or twelve 

 paces before he gets to it, the hounds being at his 

 horse's heels, and by turning his horse's head out of 

 the road the same way the fox went, he will get them 

 in on the side he wished ; but had he ridden on quite 

 to the spot, they were just as Ukely to take it heel 



