200 THE DIARY OF A HUNTS:MAN 



ing the way they came with only the old one ^Wth 

 them ; and this because he was the only man who 

 kept his ear to them. 



Nothing shows ignorance in the field so much as 

 not getting out of the way when the huntsman is 

 coming past with the hounds, particularly at a 

 check in a road. jVIen appear to forget that they 

 cannot hunt without the pack. If it is in a road 

 or in cover, it is most necessary, or the hounds must 

 break out of the road into the cover, and possibly 

 cross the line of another fox, and bring back the 

 rest of the pack, which the huntsman is getting on. 



Most men are aware that a skirting hound is 

 considered a great enemy to sport, but a decided 

 skirting rider does almost as much mischief. It is 

 true he may say he goes out to please himself, and 

 to ride as he likes best, but he must not forget that 

 he has no excuse for spoiling the sport of others, 

 and, although he is not abused to his face, he is 

 behind his back. A story is told of a good old 

 sportsman who was often annoyed by some men 

 for not acting as he thought right in the field, and 

 the only method he had of correcting them was by 

 taking an opportunity, when the wliipper-in was also 

 committing the same fault, of heartily cursing him 

 in their presence, finishing with " I may d — n youT 



