STYLE OF THE PACK. 187 



out of ten, with the wind in the same quarter, 

 will follow the same track. It is easy, there- 

 fore, for the whipper-in to cut short, and catch 

 the hounds again ; at least it is so in the coun- 

 try where I hunt. With a high scent, you 

 cannot push on hounds too much. Screams 

 keep the fox forward, at the same time that 

 they keep the hounds together, or let in the tail 

 hounds ; * they also enliven the sport, and, if 

 discreetly used, are always of service ; but, in 

 cover, they should be given with the greatest 

 caution. 



Most fox-hunters wish to see their hounds 

 run in a good style. I confess I am myself one 

 of those. I hate to see a string of them, nor 

 can I bear to see them creep where they can 

 leap. It is the dash of the fox-hound which 

 distinguishes him, as truly as the motto of 

 William of Wickham distinguishes us. A pack 

 of harriers, if they have time, will kill a fox ; 

 but I defy them to kill him in the style in which 

 a fox ought to be killed : they must hunt him 



* Halloos seldom do any hurt, when you are running up 

 the wind; for then none but the tail hounds can hear you. 

 When you are running down the wind, you should halloo 

 no more than may be necessary to bring the tail hounds 

 forward ; for a hound that knows his business seldom wants 

 encouragement when he is upon a scent, * 



