104 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



their heads up, and after running over a field they 

 overran the line, flashed forward, and ultimately 

 lost their fox. Now if the silent system had pre- 

 vailed, no notice would have been taken of any of 

 the holloas so long as hounds were running. They 

 would have come out of covert close at the brush 

 of their fox, and if they had not killed him before 

 he made the sharp turn down a thick hedgerow 

 which saved his life, they would have spread them- 

 selves with their noses to the ground when the 

 check came, instead of flashing forwards to look 

 for their fox. Hounds were not to blame, inasmuch 

 as they hunted steadily enough till the noise got 

 their heads up, and caused them to become excited, 

 and then they simply did not hunt with the per- 

 severance they should have shown. Nor was it 

 to be expected of them under such circumstances. 

 Depend upon it that the silent system shows more 

 sport and kills a better percentage of foxes than 

 the other, and it is, moreover, founded on the 

 soundest principle — the principle that it is im- 

 possible to kill a fox without hounds. 



