x Preface 



it will be in spite of its style. The reins, the gun, and 

 the tiller are probably better suited to the writer's hands 

 than the pen. His chief hope is that the reader may 

 have some of the pleasure in reading the book that the 

 author had in writing it. He is well aware that many of 

 his views are not altogether orthodox, but he has at- 

 tempted to be honest with himself and present his own 

 ideas and views regardless of some well-grounded no- 

 tions current among hunting men. We are all apt to get 

 into a rut in our ways of thinking. It may be prefer- 

 able to have a rut of our own rather than follow a blind 

 ditch simply because the crowd seems to be going that 

 way. The writer is also aware that he now rejects many 

 theories that a few years ago were considered true gospel, 

 which leads him to suspect that a few years hence he may 

 repudiate some things that he now asserts with much assur- 

 ance. He will consider his reward very ample if in the 

 hour of ultimate success the novice reader has a kindly 

 thought for " Cross Country with Horse and Hound." 



THE ELMS 



CORNELL HEIGHTS 



ITHACA, N. Y. 



