108 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



of stout wild foxes, which puzzle a good pack of 

 hounds to catch them. And what is the secret ? 

 An able head keeper, who thoroughly knows his 

 business, and who is not only not afraid to work 

 himself, but takes good care to keep no drones 

 amongst his underlings. For it certainly entails a 

 little more trouble on Mr. Velveteens to furnish 

 both foxes and game in plenty. But then it is 

 what he is paid to do, and if he does not do it he 

 should be promptly sent about his business. Nor 

 does it do any harm to the best of covert shooting 

 for hounds to be run through the coverts before 

 they are shot. If there are foxes, as there ought to 

 be, they ought to be disturbed in order that they 

 may know their business. Besides which, idleness 

 is the sure forerunner of mischief, and idle foxes 

 are the most mischievous of their kind. An odd 

 pheasant may perhaps not get back after hounds 

 have been through the coverts, but it will only be 

 an odd one if the keeper does his duty. And 

 against this is the set -off that hounds make 

 pheasants rise, and that where pheasants are very 

 thick on the ground this is what they do not always 

 do. Of course I do not for a moment suggest 

 that hounds should draw or even be permitted to 

 run into a covert if it can be avoided when a 

 shooting day is near at hand ; but my contention 

 is that foxes and game can live together, and that 

 hounds can draw coverts before they are shot 

 without doing any harm, if the keeper is worth his 

 salt. 



