204 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



reach them soonest : in such a case, there will be Httle us^ 

 in stopping those that are up the wind, 



) > When hounds are at a check. Jet every one be silent and 

 ' stand still : 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 hunts^- 

 man, 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 champy 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 j and, if in health and 

 spirits, will want no encouragement. 



Should they be at fault, after having made their own 

 cast (which the huntsman should always first encourage 

 them to do), it is then his business to assist them farther j 

 but, except in some particular instances, I never approve of 

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



