THE HUNTSMAN 131 



A good voice is certainly an advantage to a 

 huntsman, though it is not altogether a necessity ; 

 but I believe a harsh voice is as unpleasant to a 

 hound as a discord is to a very sensitive human 

 ear. Hound-language may be left to the indi- 

 vidual taste, but I like every sound to have dis- 

 tinct reason and meaning in it. A tally-ho should 

 never be used except when you see the fox, and 

 wish to give the pack a view. When hounds 

 are running, a cheer may be given occasionally 

 to get the pack up to head, but it must be used 

 with discretion, and with a very feeble scent it 

 is better to be silent, as in that case the slightest 

 sound may distract their attention. I have often 

 heard huntsmen cheer hounds when they merely 

 wanted to make a cast, and that, of course, is a 

 great mistake. You may do it once or twice 

 without much harm resulting ; but hounds will 

 soon find you out, and then when you want them 

 to fly to you at a critical moment, they will take 

 no notice. It is an old saying that you may 

 deceive a pack once, but not twice. A proper 

 use of hound-language may be construed as using 

 the right words or sounds at the right moment. 

 As I have said elsewhere, hounds' hearing is very 



