PILOTS. 373 



country a big covert, which was always considered 

 a certain find, being drawn blank, much to the 

 huntsman's surprise. As he called off his hounds, 

 after a thorough investigation, a farmer said, with a 

 smile : ''I knew they wouldn't find a fox here, for 



Mr. 's foxhound puppy, which he is walking, has 



been rummaging about this covert all morning ! " 

 It appears that Mr. Blank was a farmer whose land 

 adjoined the said covert, and who had found his fox- 

 hound puppy more useful in driving away foxes than 

 his sheepdogs. 



Instead of doling out compensation to farmers as a 

 form of charity, it would be much better for our 

 hunting authorities to meet them on a level footing, 

 get them to appoint a committee of their own, and 

 pay that official body, every year, a certain proportion 

 of the hunt subscriptions, to be applied according to 

 the wishes of the Farmers' Committee. 



PILOTS. 



I have not enlarged on the subject of hunting 

 pilotage, because, truth to tell, I have never indulged 

 in the luxury of a pilot, as I have preferred to 

 know the capabilities of my mount and to see and 

 act for myself. I believe that any woman who can 

 ride and manage her horse with intelligent forethought, 

 has no more need of a paid pilot than has the small 

 boy who takes his chance on his pony. If a lady has 

 no male companion to remain with her during the day's 

 hunting, she should provide herself with a groom, 



