DUTIES TO THE FIELD. 17 



had not been very quickly lifted off its hinges, there 

 would doubtless have been a serious accident. 



Then, again, you should never attempt to pass anyone 

 when the field is proceeding at single file along the ride 

 of a covert or in a lane where there is a lot of mud. 

 You and everyone else can slow down when a bit of 

 really deep or boggy ground is reached. In such 

 going the best horse in the world may fall if when 

 galloping fast he hits a stone which is concealed in the 

 mud, and, even putting aside the fact that galloping 

 in such ground is extremely dangerous, it is almost 

 certain that, if you go fast through such a place, you 

 will plaster with mud whoever is coming behind you. 



Another matter about wliich you must be careful is 

 the dismounted man. If when hounds are running you 

 see a man off his horse and in your direct line, you must 

 pull up to a slow pace and walk or trot slowly past, 

 for if you gallop past at top speed you may cause his horse 

 to break away, or, if he retains his hold, to set about 

 playing the fool. The man may have dismounted 

 to do something for the common good of the field, or 

 he may have dismounted on his own account or 

 because his horse has become lame ; but, anyhow, you 

 may take it for granted that he has not got off during 

 a run without good reason, and you will not be any the 

 worse off for slackening speed for a few moments. 

 Then, again, if someone gets of? to open a refractory gate, 

 and you are first through, give him time to get on again 

 before you go on, even if hounds are running hard in front. 

 This is a matter on which hunting etiquette is very 

 strict, and only a huntsman is allowed to go on without 

 waiting, and when a run has been in progress some 



c 



