-e>y- 



•-PTER IX. 



He guides them in covert, he leads them in chase; 

 Though the young and the jealous try hard for his place, 

 •Tis Bachelor always is first in the race. 

 He beats them for nose and he beats them for pace. 



" ELVILI . 



It has been suggested and would be, I think, a 

 very excellent plan if everyone were obliged, before 

 going fox-hunting, to pass a little examination and 

 answer a few simple questions on the noble sport. 



One thing that I would try to impress on every 

 lad who takes seriously to hunting is this: from the 

 time hounds move off from the meet until they go home, 

 keep your "whole attention concentrated on the- . If 

 a lad begins in this way from the first, it will soon 

 become a habit, and, almost without knowing it, he will 

 find himself always on the alert and watchful. So 

 much, too, can be done by every individual member of 

 the field, if his attention is really fixed on the 

 sport, to make the work of the hunt servants less try- 

 ing. Both the huntsman and his hounds and the whippers- 

 in have constantly to pass through the "field." If 

 you are on the look-out and make way for them, it makes 

 their work much easier, and the example one man sets in 

 making way is quickly followed by others. 



It is always worth while trying to help the hunt 

 servants in any way, and they appreciate it. They 

 are good fellows, and many a kindly hint have they 

 given me from time to time, and they alone, of all men, 

 are worth attending to if they drop a word in the 

 morning as to what sort of scent to expect. Fro : 

 coming on with hounds and knowing them so well, they 

 can sometimes form a fairly sound opinion on that 

 mysterious essence. 



As well as always being ready to make way in lane 

 or roadway, be careful, unless you have the utmost 



