256 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



who never take the trouble to think the matter 

 fairly out, and who actually know very little of 

 the intricate work which belongs of necessity to a 

 Master of Hounds or a huntsman. Nor is the 

 tyro the only offender. I have known men who 

 have hunted for many seasons, and who certainly 

 ought to have known better, make most unfair 

 criticisms on those who undertake the onerous 

 responsibility — and it is an onerous responsibility — 

 of managing and hunting a pack of hounds. I 

 often wonder when I hear the learned dissertations 

 of these gentlemen where they get their informa- 

 tion about hunting, and I am inclined to think 

 that their ideas of the sport — -their theoretical 

 ideas I mean — are derived from the pages of 

 romance. A man who goes hunting regularly 

 should certainly study the subject in the pages of 

 Beckford and other experts, so that he may have 

 a fair idea of the difficulties which beset the path 

 of the Master and huntsman in the execution of 

 their duties ; but no amount of study will serve the 

 purpose unless there is keen observation in the 

 field. And I may remark how frequently does 

 the man whose hard riding days are over, or even 

 never had a beginning, see and enjoy the niceties 

 of the sport which are missed by some who have 

 a right to call themselves first-flight men. They 

 may not be always there, but when they are there 

 they see what is going on. 



One constant subject of adverse criticism is the 

 draw. Hounds are advertised to meet at a certain 

 place. " Oh," says our friend, " they will draw 

 Bellhanger Gorse, and Dingley Dell, and Breakem 

 Down Thorns." But the Master draws quite in 

 the other direction. Bellhanger Gorse does what 



