THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 299 



again the next day : — the hkellest method, however, to kill 

 him, is to take every advantage of him that you can. 



All hounds go fast enough with a good scent; but it 

 is the particular excellence of a fox-hound, when rightly 

 managed, to get on faster with an indifferent scent than 

 any other hound*: — it is the business of a huntsman to 

 encourage this ; and here, most probably, the hare-hunter 

 will fail. He has been used to take his time ; he has 

 enjoyed a cold scent, like a southern hound ; and has sitten 

 patiently upon his horse, to see his hounds hunt. It is, 

 to be sure, very pretty to see ; and, when you consider that 

 the hare is all the time, perhaps, within a few yards of 

 you, and may leap up the next minute, you are perfectly 

 contented with what you are about : — but it is not so in 

 fox-hunting : every minute that you lose is precious, and 

 increases your difficulties ; and while you are standing still, 

 the fox is running miles. It is a satisfadion to a hare- 

 hunter to be told where his game vv'as seen, though a long 

 while before ; but it is melancholy news to a fox-hunter, 



* ft is a quick method of hunting, that I mostly value in any hound : 

 such as are possessed of it, arc seldom long-off the scent : it is the reverie 

 of slackness. 



R r 



