12 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



they were about to ride. Consequently, as they 

 were living and hunting amongst their friends and 

 neighbours, as there were comparatively few of 

 them, and, consequently, damages were limited, 

 there was none of that friction with the farmers 

 which now unhappily exists in some countries 

 where large fields of strangers bruise along entirely 

 regardless of the damage they do, and perhaps with 

 scarcely a civil word for the remonstrant occupier 

 of the soil, who is righteously grieved at needless 

 mischief. 



In the good old days gorse coverts, as we know 

 them, were so scarce as to be practically non- 

 existent, foxes were also scarcer and worse to 

 find, so an entirely different style of hunting was 

 necessary. To begin with, it was essential to 

 make an early start in order that the drag might 

 not be too stale. For, instead of waving hounds 

 into a gorse covert or wood, as is now the case, it 

 was imperative that the overnight drag of the fox 

 should be hit upon and that he should be hunted 

 up to his kennel. So daybreak was the usual 

 hour of meeting, and hounds proceeded to try the 

 open commons and moors, which then prevailed 

 to a greater extent than they do now. A drag is 

 hit upon, hounds at first perhaps can barely own 

 it, and the huntsman's watchful eye is needed to 

 prevent them running heel. All goes well, 

 however, the drag grows warmer and warmer, 

 they will find him immediately, for the occasional 

 notes of a wise and fine-nosed old hound have for 

 some minutes gradually been swelling into a chorus. 

 They must be close to his kennel now. See, there 

 he is ! and now opening all together hounds settle 

 down to their work in grim earnest, and the run 



