G6 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



Beckford's description of a fox-chase lie represents the terriers 

 as being np and speaking to the fox in the covert, before he is 

 killed, which, says Stonehenge, they could not have been, with 

 hounds going the pace they do at the present day. That 

 argument would hold good had Beckford described a burst 

 straight away without check or turn, and the fox run into in the 

 open. But any one who reads his run over carefully will see 

 that he has not done so, but that he rather describes a good 

 hunting run, in which more than one check occurs sufficient to 

 let a terrier, who cuts off corners, and keeps going, in with the 

 pack again. First there is a turn in the covert, where they 

 change foxes, and the pack divide ; then a check, where the 

 hounds make their own cast ; and Trueynan hits it off. Quickly 

 another check, in which the huntsman is advised to make a wide 

 cast forward, as a sheep-dog has coursed the fox ; then a holloa, 

 where Beckford says, " Hark ! that holloa is indeed a lucky one. 

 If we can hold him on, we may yet recover him, for a fox so 

 much distressed must stop at last. We shall now see if they will 

 hunt as well as run, for there is but little scent, and the im- 

 pending cloud still makes that little less. How they enjoy the 

 scent ! See how busy they all are, and how each in his turn 

 prevails ! 



"Huntsman, be quiet ! Whilst the scent was good, you press'd 

 on your hounds — it was well done. When they came to a 

 check, you stood still, and interrupted them not. They were 

 afterwards at fault. You made your cast with judgment, and 

 lost no time — you must now let them hunt. With such a cold 

 scent as this, you can do no good ; they must do it all them- 

 selves. Lift them now, and not a hound would stoop again. Ha ! 

 a high road, at such a time as this, when the tenderest-nosed 

 hound can hardly own the scent ! Another fault ! that man at 

 work there has headed back the fox. Huntsman, cast not your 

 hounds now ; you see they have over-run the scent ! Have a 

 little patience, and let them for once try back." 



Now if this is not slow hunting I don't know what it is, and 



