76 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



In the first place, there is a change of principle 

 involved in the change of plan — a change of prin- 

 ciple with regard to the relations between the 

 Master and his field. When a card was sent out 

 there was a tacit understanding that the men who 

 went out cubbing went at the personal invitation of 

 the Master, and that they were therefore bound to 

 conform to all the rules and regulations of cub- 

 hunting, and refrain from captious criticism. But 

 once advertise the cubbing fixtures, and the world 

 at large is invited to take part in a business of 

 which few men understand even the rudiments. It 

 is like admitting the public behind the scenes of a 

 theatre, or like a conjuror showing his audience 

 " how it is done." 



Every one knows that cub-hunting has its being 

 only for the education of hounds and foxes ; but 

 what every one does not know is the many minute 

 details which have to be carried out in order to 

 make that education complete and satisfactory. 

 To begin with, the coverts must be thoroughly 

 routed so that the huntsman may know where his 

 foxes are, a knowledge which will prove invaluable 

 later in the season when an afternoon fox is wanted 

 and there is not much time to spare. This, too, 

 teaches all the foxes to go away, and a wood or 

 covert should not be left so long as there is a fox 

 in it. Then it is essential that quietness should 

 prevail, that there should be nothing to take 

 hounds' attention away from what, though it is 

 our amusement, is to them the serious business of 

 life, and there should be no galloping about. Now 

 it is almost impossible for these conditions to 

 prevail when a promiscuous crowd is assembled at 

 the covert side, and consequently the education of 



