182 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



know which it is, instead of merely hallooing 

 " Tally-ho," which is often the case. 



As soon as, or before, if possible, hounds are 

 thrown into a large cover, to draw it, one whipper- 

 in should clap on down wind as fast as he can, in 

 case a good fox steals away, as the first that goes is 

 generally the best. But if only one whip, this one 

 will be better employed the early part of the season 

 (till Christmas) in keeping near the hounds, as the 

 young ones will be apt to run riot, and until this 

 time two whips are better than one. But if they 

 have been active up to this time, one whipper-in 

 the remainder of the season is generally all that is 

 required. The surest way to get a run before 

 December is to take every method to get away 

 with the first fox that breaks cover. When in the 

 chase, and the hounds are going through a large 

 cover, if there are two whips out, the first should not 

 follow the huntsman if there is another ride equally 

 Hkely, or nearly so ; the other whip should go the 

 line the huntsman does, in case of accidents. 



A whipper-in should not ride as if he was riding 

 for amusement or credit, but should have his eye 

 to the hounds without distressing his horse, which 

 is a great recommendation to every master of 

 hounds. The greatest fools generally ride the 



