368 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



a fir tree I stop to pick a green tuft for my cap, 

 following the quaint Austrian fashion of successful 

 sportsmen. Half an hour later I am at home. 



To my mind no sport can be more delightful 

 than this combination of shooting and hunting. 

 Two things only are necessary. Firstly, the 

 knowledge where to stand. This the natives of 

 every country can tell one, for there is no village 

 in the world but can produce some fellow with 

 that instinct that makes the poacher (I mean the 

 rustic, not the professional variety) in England. 

 The second desideratum is the hound, which must 

 draw well and wide, but perseveringly and 

 musically, and lastly return to his master after 

 a blank draw or an unsuccessful chase. This 

 last is easily taught, but involves the wearisome 

 job of waiting (hours sometimes) for the youngster 

 you are entering. Go home without him, and 

 sooner or later he will return the compliment. 

 As to the breed of hound, the nature of the 

 country in which you hunt must govern the 

 selection. Small woodlands and easy ground 

 involve small hounds, dachshunds for choice, 

 but it is so rare that they will draw wide enough, 

 and many are not musical. Here they would 

 never do, for, apart from the difficulties of the 

 ground, the wolf has a habit of joining in such 

 a chase, and many a beagle has been lost in this 

 manner. Some people use a couple of hounds, 



