OF ENTERING THEM. 77 



head them, to bring them back. Run no such 

 risk. My hounds were near being spoiled by 

 the mere accident of a horse's falling. The 

 whipper-in was thrown from his horse. The 

 horse ran away, and the whole pack followed 

 him. A flock of sheep, which were at a little 

 distance, took fright, began to run, and the 

 hounds pursued them. The most vicious set 

 on the rest, and several sheep were soon pulled 

 down, and killed. I mention this to show 

 you what caution is necessary whilst hounds 

 are idle ; for though the fall of the horse was 

 not to be attributed to any fault of the man, 

 yet had the old hounds been taken out by 

 themselves, or had all the young ones been in 

 couples, it is probable so common an accident 

 would not have produced so extraordinary an 

 event. 



It is now time to stoop them to a scent. You 

 had better enter them at their own game ; it will 

 save you much trouble afterwards. Many dogs, 

 I believe, like that scent best which they were 

 first blooded to ; but be that as it may, it is cer- 

 tainly most reasonable to use them to that which 

 it is intended they should hunt. It may not be 

 amiss, when they first begin to hunt, to put light 

 collars on them. Young hounds may easily get 



