322 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



south side of a covert, most huntsmen prefer to cast the 

 hounds in from the east or north or west, and hunt up to 

 him, giving him the least opportunity to dodge or hang 

 about before taking to the open. All this is a matter of 

 woodcraft, and the problem, one of the interesting moves 

 of the game, must be studied out by each rider for himself. 



In approaching our covert to-day we notice that we do 

 so from the east, and that the wind is south. We are, that 

 is to say, starting with the general rule that the fox will 

 be found on the sunny side of the covert, and that since his 

 nature is to travel up-wind he will in this case break toward 

 the southward if the hounds are in the east to help him decide. 

 We cannot stop now to discuss the numerous other compli- 

 cations which may arise. The Master may prefer, for in- 

 stance, on account of the condition of the fields to the south 

 of the covert, to send the fox the other way out. Assum- 

 ing that everything is favourable, however, to the fox's 

 breaking south, our best station to get away with a good 

 start will be at the southeast corner. At the same time 

 we must be careful not to go beyond the corner, or we 

 may head the fox back into the covert again, which is a 

 thing no hunting man should ever be guilty of. Novice 

 had better not make too great an advance in that direction, 

 for the Master, who is himself setting the example of hold- 

 ing back, has an eye on all the forward riders, and a step 

 too far is sure to bring a reprimand. " Hold hard there, 

 Bayhorse ! Hold hard ! Do you want to head the fox 

 back to the covert ?" 



We had better keep back, taking a position a very little 

 in advance of the Master himself; we must remember, as he 



