i^2 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING* 



Do certain rule, yet yoa may frequently gaefs hf 

 it whether it may be depended on or not. At 

 the fowing time, when boys are bird-keeping, if 

 you be not very much on your guard, their hal- 

 loo will fometiraes deceive you. It is beft, when 

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

 know ; the worfl then that can befiiU you is the 

 lofs 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 fcent afterwards: on the other hand, if, cer- 

 tain of the halloo, you intend going to it ; then 

 the fooner you get to it the better. 1 have been 

 inore angry with my huntfman, for being flow at 

 a time like tliis, than for any other fault whatfo- 

 ever. Huntfmen who are flow at getting to a 

 halloo, are void of common fenfe. 



They frequently commit another fault by being 

 in too great a hurry when they get there. It is 

 hardly credible how much our eagernefs is apt, at 

 fuch a time, to miflead our judgment: for in- 

 ilance, when we get to the halloo, the firft quef- 

 tlons are natural enough. Did you fee the fox? 

 Which way did he go ? The man points with 

 his finger, perhaps, and then away you all ride 

 as fail: as you can ; and in fuch a hurry, that not 

 one will ftay to hear the anfwer to the queftion* 

 which all were fo ready to afk : the general con- 

 fequence of which is_, you miflake the place^ and 



arof 



