POINTS OF ETIQUETTE 133 



way — by riding about in his newly-laid seed field. 

 I am of opinion that the Master would have done 

 quite right if on seeing these people he had 

 "named" them to his field, and stated that 

 owing to their conduct he should spend the rest 

 of the day in the woodlands. I once saw a 

 Master punish the would-be clever members of 

 his field properly. It had become the custom 

 when hounds met at a certain place for many 

 people to station themselves at certain coigns of 

 'vantage round the coverts, which I have known 

 to be almost surrounded. The favourite fixture 

 was again selected, and, of course, the coverts were, 

 as usual, surrounded. The Master, however, 

 quietly moved off to the moors, and the lesson 

 has never been forgotten in that country. 



There is one more point to which I wish to 

 draw attention. It is the duty of every one to 

 do all in his power to further the huntsman in 

 the pursuit of his duty. Theoretically every one 

 admits that he ought to stand aside for the hunts- 

 man. But, practically, how many people always 

 make way for him ? " Each resolved to be first " 

 is an excellent motto, but it should be borne in 

 mind that hounds without the huntsman are of 

 little use on a bad or catchy scenting day. This 

 is what you will see on occasion. Hounds cross 

 a road, and on getting through the gate out of 

 the road the huntsman wants to jump at right 

 angles into the next field, in order to be with his 

 hounds. He gallops a few yards up the head 

 ridge, and turns round to charge the fence. In- 

 stead of his charging the fence he is himself 

 charged by an impulsive hurrying crowd, who see 

 a nice line of gates in front of them. The hunts- 



