The Sport of Our Jincestors 



with the experience of every authority. And this ex- 

 perience teaches you that when the Hounds come to a check 

 every one should stand still, huntsman included, until the 

 Hounds have done trying for themselves. * The huntsman at 

 a check had better let his hounds alone. . . .' * Hounds that 

 are not used to be cast will themselves acquire a better cast 

 than it is in the power of any huntsman to give them ; 

 will spread more, and try better for the scent. ... I 

 never approve of their being cast so long as they are in- 

 clined to hunt,' and so on. Beckford, like all good judges, 

 was an inveterate opponent of fancy casts. His own hunts- 

 man was always expected to make the orthodox circle first 

 of all before flying any kites on his own account. But 

 although Beckford thoroughly appreciated the golden rule 

 of leaving Hounds alone at the right moment, he quite 

 rightly doubted whether a pack of Hounds, always left 

 entirely alone, would kill a Fox at all. In fact, he goes so 

 far as to say that a Foxhound who will not bear lifting is 

 not worth the keeping. But he adds to this a most invalu- 

 able qualification : * Hounds never, in my opinion (unless 

 in particular cases, or when you go to a halloo), should be 

 taken entirely off their noses, but when lifted, should be 

 constantly made to try as they go.' This looks like a contra- 

 diction in terms, and maybe the sentence is rather slipshod. 

 When Hounds are lifted in the proper sense of the term 

 they should be deliberately taken off their noses, and not 

 allowed to put them down again until the huntsman desires 

 them to do so. But it is easy to see what Beckford means. 

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