WHEN THE FOX IS CHANGED. 191 



they can hear the others, and will reach them 

 soonest : in such a case, there will be little use 

 in stopping those that are up the wind. 



When hounds are at a check, let every one be 

 silent : but as I have already said so much on 

 that head in my eleventh letter on hare-hunting, 

 I beg leave to refer you to it. Whippers-in are 

 frequently at this time coming on with the tail 

 hounds. They should never halloo to them 

 when the hounds are at fault: the least thing 

 does hurt at such a time, but a halloo more 

 than any other. The huntsman, at a check, had 

 better let his hounds alone, or content himself 

 with holding them forward, without taking them 

 off their noses. Hounds that are not used to be 

 cast a tout bout de champ, will of 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 ; and, if they are in health 

 and spirits, they will want no encouragement. 



If t!iey are at fault, and have made their own 

 cast, (which the huntsman should always first 

 encourage them to do,) it is then his business to 

 assist them further ; but except, in some parti- 

 cular instances, I never approve of their being- 

 cast, as long as they are inclined to hunt. The 

 first cast I bid my huntsman make is generally 



