284 COVEKT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



fame with the horn, have either begun with, or, at any rate, 

 hunted harriers — men who are no more to be named in the same 

 day with the least amongst them than a rushlight is to be com- 

 pared to a July sun at mid-day — affect to look down upon the 

 sport of hare-hunting. I am quite willing to admit that a man 

 in the prime of life, with good nerve, health, and plenty of 

 horses, may crave for stronger meat, and more excitement than 

 the chase of the hare can set before him — and perhaps I should 

 say he was a bit of a muff did he not seek it in due season. 

 But that is no reason he should despise, or affect to despise, a 

 sport that will show him more of hounds and hunting in a 

 given time than any other, if he only has eyes to see and ears 

 to hear. No man would, I believe, care to live day after day 

 on turtle and punch, venison and port, and other dishes and 

 drinks which are held to form the acme of luxurious living. In 

 time he would crave for plainer fare, and less stimulating 

 viands ; and, by the same rule, no true sportsman will despise a 

 day or two occasionally with the harriers, in a country which is 

 suitable for the sport. I don't care how hard a rider he may 

 be, or how brilliantly he goes when there is occasion, your true 

 houndsman will enjoy a day with the harriers, when j^robably 

 you will see him trotting about as quietly as an old gentleman 

 on a fat cob ; but he will always be near enough to note what 

 hounds are doing, and very probably taking a far greater in- 

 terest in their work than others who have come out with them 

 professedly to ride. I said before that no man can ride a chase 

 unless he is a houndsman, and, as some exception may perhaps 

 be taken to that assertion, I had better explain my meaning, 

 which is, that no man can ride so as to make the most of his 

 horse, and see the most of a good run, unless he notices and 

 pays attention to the hounds in their work, stops as they 

 check, and turns with them as they turn. I admit that many 

 men who do not do this may ride bold and straight, have a 

 good eye to ground and country, and knowledge of what their 

 horse is doing, so that in a lark or steeplechase they may be 



