THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. ^53 



When the place and time of meeting are fixed, every 

 huntsman ought to be as exad: to them as it is possible,, 

 On no account is he to be before the time ; yet, on some 

 occasions, it might be better, perhaps, for the diversion, 

 were he permitted to be after it^ , — The course that your 

 huntsman intends to take in drawing, ought also to be weU 

 understood before he leaves the kennel. 



If your huntsman, without inconveriiency, can begin 

 drawing at the farthest cover down the wind, and so draw 

 from cover to cover up the wind till you find, let him 

 do it. It will have many advantages attending it : he will 

 draw the same covers in half the time; your people 

 cannot fail of being in their proper places ; you will 

 have less difficulty in getting your hounds off; and, as 

 the fox will most probably run the covers that have been 

 already drawn, you are less likely to change. 



If you have a string of small covers, and plenty of foxes 

 in them, some caution may be necessary, to prevent your 

 hounds from disturbing them all in one day. Never 



* When there is a white frost, for instance j at the going oiFof which 

 the scent never lies. 



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