6o THE SPORT OF KINGS 



somewhat aimlessly about a country as the manner 

 of some is, and so affording the said enthusiast 

 plenty of opportunity for the bruising in which 

 his soul delights, and which to him is the be-all 

 and the end-all of fox-hunting. Now, I do not 

 wish to be misunderstood. I do not wish to 

 imply that because a man is a hard rider and 

 prefers a fast burst to walking a fox to death, he 

 therefore knows or cares nothing about hounds. 

 Nothing can be farther from the fact, but I would 

 point out to those hard riders who do not under- 

 stand hounds and hound work that their enjoy- 

 ment of the most brilliant and fastest gallop they 

 were ever in would be much enhanced were they 

 capable of seeing the niceties of hound work. For 

 these niceties are to be seen in the fastest gallop 

 as well as in the slower hunting run, only it is 

 difficult always to get into a place to see them. 

 That, however, is a detail which may best be left 

 to them ; they will no doubt try to solve the 

 difficulty to their satisfaction. But there is another 

 aspect of the case, and one that will obtrude itself. 

 The time will come to all of us, sooner or later, 

 when nerve will give way and advancing years will 

 no longer permit us to join or attempt to join in 

 the first flight. Then there is the choice of two 

 evils : giving it up altogether, or, by means of a 

 good stout cob, knowledge of the country, and 

 skill in woodcraft, seeing plenty of fun and the 

 death of many a good fox. Which is the prefer- 

 able course ? I think the question scarcely admits 

 of argument. 



A gentleman whom I have the privilege of 

 knowing intimately, and who is now advanced in 

 years, has got more fun out of hunting than any 



