196 OF HALLOOS. 



You should, however, be cautious how you go 

 to a halloo. The halloo itself must, in a great 

 measure, direct you ; and though it affords no 

 certain rule, yet you may frequently guess by it 

 whether it is to be depended on or not. At the 

 sowing time, when boys are bird-keeping, if you 

 are not very much on your guard, their halloo 

 will sometimes deceive you. It is best, when 

 you are in doubt, to send on a whipper-in to 

 know : the worst then that can befal you is the 

 loss of a little time ; whereas, if you gallop away 

 with the hounds to the halloo, and are obliged 

 to return, it is a chance if they try for the scent 

 afterwards : on the other hand, if you are certain 

 of the halloo, and intend going to it, then the 

 sooner you get to it the better. I have been 

 more angry with my huntsman for being slow at 

 such a time as this, than for any other fault 

 whatsoever. Huntsmen who are slow at getting 

 to a halloo, are void of common sense. 



They frequently commit another fault, by 

 being in too great a hurry when they get there. 

 It is hardly credible how much our eagerness is 

 apt, at such a time, to mislead our judgment : 

 for instance, when we get to the halloo, the first 

 questions are natural enough : — Did you see the 

 fox ? — Which way did he go ? The man points 



