2o6 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



men take to the kennels like ducklings take to water, 

 though they know the hard side of a huntsman's life. 



I remember that when I was a boy I used to think 

 that a huntsman's life must be a bed of roses, and I am 

 sure that many adult followers of hounds, and even a 

 few Masters, hold the same opinion now. At all events, 

 they behave as if they did, and seem to forget that the 

 obedience of hounds is the result of incessant kennel 

 work. Then the Master generally obtains the greater 

 share of the credit due for the efficiency of the pack, 

 though he may seldom enter his own kennels. Now, 

 in the latter case, it is not pleasant for the huntsman to 

 hear a stranger congratulating the Master upon the 

 appearance of the hounds, and the Master accepting 

 the praise unblushingly, as if he had earned it. 

 These congratulations generally take place as we are 

 moving off to draw our first covert, and may upset a 

 huntsman's temper for the whole day. 



This, however, is a minor trial in comparison with 

 the active interference of the Master in the field while 

 hounds are hunting. But the Master is not always to 

 be blamed alone for this interference. There are some 

 men who are always volunteering their advice. They 

 know from experience that the huntsman will pay no 

 attention to them, and so they inflict their opinions 

 upon the Master, who is sometimes foolish enough to 

 listen to them, especially if they happen to coincide 

 with his own. I have now in my mind's eye one of 

 these gentlemen, who, considering the number of 

 seasons he has hunted, has spoilt more runs than any 

 man I know. This is a strong thing to say, considering 



