HOME AND HAUNTS OF THE FOX 93 



There are many people who never know they have 

 ridden one til] they find themselves back at the 

 starting-point. 



There has probably been some change in the last 

 century in the length of runs, but not so much as might 

 be supposed. The story of any typical Leicestershire 

 run which took place nearly a century ago might 

 have been written yesterday, and will be found indeed 

 to be very characteristic of present-day sport among 

 the artificial coverts of High Leicestershire. 



There are, perhaps, quite as many long runs 

 now as of old, the difference being that when foxes 

 were scarce only one fox was pursued from start to 

 finish : nowadays there are often three or four 

 hunted during the run. This is due not alone to the 

 fact — if fact it be — that foxes run shorter than of old, 

 but also to the pressure of the crowd. If the fox 

 turn short back, as foxes will do, when they have 

 reached the limits of the country they know, or if the 

 hounds and huntsman are swept on after the pack 

 have lost the line, there is nothing to do but to cast 

 forward, and a fresh fox is often picked up. There is a 

 story of a modern Master who was going away along- 

 side his leading couples. ' That is not your hunted 



fox,' said a friend. ' Perhaps not, but he d d soon 



will be ! ' was the reply. 



