16 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUXTING NOVICES. 



particular reason why you should be forward, but if you 

 want to join anyone vrho is in front, go quietly past, 

 with a " beg pardon," if there is plenty of room. Other- 

 wise you should remain where you are until the road 

 widens, or until you find yourself in an open field. 

 When going through a covert, never attempt to pass 

 the man in front. If he is going too slowly, and a gap 

 is being opened out between him and the man he is 

 following, you can ask him to quicken up, and he will, of 

 course, trot on, and this rule applies equally whether 

 hounds are running or not. If a covert has to be 

 traversed in the course of a run, you cannot exercise 

 too much care, and the first thing you must think of is 

 to have your pony well in hand. Two years ago I 

 saw some horrible confusion caused under these circum- 

 stances. Hounds were running hard in a grass country 

 when they came to a belt of covert near a great house. 

 There was a ride across the belt — which was about 

 a hundred yards wide — and a hunting wicket at either 

 end. The run had only been ten minutes in progress, 

 and there was a large field out. The first who reached 

 the gate opened it and v»'ent through, and the field 

 crowded in one by one, pressing on far too closely. 

 Unfortunately, the far gate was locked, and a delay took 

 place, and those behind, not knowing what had hap- 

 pened in front, kept shoving on, and caused the ride to 

 be blocked up with horses. All of a sudden one horse 

 lashed out, and a moment later half a dozen horses 

 which had never kicked before were all trying to do 

 the same thing. Luckily, the horses were so jambed 

 together that few of them had rooin to kick freely ; 

 but one man was rather badly hurt, and, if the gate 



