CONCLUDING MAXIMS. 469 



what the " old ones" say on this subject, as inap- j < 

 plicable to these fast times, don't be long before \ | 

 you take hold of them, and assist them, if they ? 

 cannot. We would not go from scent to view ; 

 yet hounds in these days that will not bear lifting 

 are not worth having. But do all this quietly as 

 well as quickly. Turn your horse's head towards 

 the line you think your fox is gone ; and the first 

 moment you see all their heads up — that is, if they 

 do not hit him off — put your horn to your mouth 

 for one blast or two, and trot away to still more 

 likely points. If your pack will divide when cast- 

 ing, so much the better ; but if they are good for 

 any thing, they will be making their own cast 

 whilst you are making yours, by not keeping at 

 your horse's heels, but spreading as they go. 



When you have hit upon his point, if a single 

 hound goes off with a good scent, get the body to 

 him as quickly as you can ; but not so if the scent 

 be not warm. In the latter case, your hounds will 

 be in expectation of a fresh fox, and will be in a 

 hurry ; the hound that is forward will be lifted, 

 and in all probability you will have to seek for the 

 scent again. Go gently, and your hounds, if steady, 

 will settle to it. Likewise, if, when at check, you ^ 

 are hollooed to a spot where a fox has been viewed, \ 

 stand still, and say nothing at the moment the first j 

 two or three hounds throw their tongues. If you \ 

 hurry the body on immediately, the scent will often <' 

 be lost if the fox has been a few minutes gone. If 

 it can be done, give your hounds the wind at a 

 crisis like this. Again, when a fox has been viewed, 



