310 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



moreover, the advantage of youth on his side, and, being a 

 moderate weight and very fine horseman, let them run as hard 

 as they like, he is always there or thereabouts to see what is 

 going forward, and render assistance if it is needed. No man is 

 better mounted, and when I was last in the country he was 

 riding horses that would have done credit to the shires. Very 

 large fields for harriers are generally to be found with the 

 Brookside, and they would be much larger was not capping en- 

 forced here, as much for the protection of the farmers, over 

 whose land they hunt, as for the sake of supporting the hounds, 

 riiis gets rid of a large class who care nothing at all about sport, 

 but like a ride, and would, when hounds were near, perhaps 

 rather take it in their direction than any other. From such a 

 place as Brighton these would not only be a great nuisance, but 

 do an infinity of mischief to crops, besides spoiling sport, and a 

 itap effectually stops them. During the month of October and 

 early in November, many well-known sportsmen, who shine in 

 other and more difficult countries, are to be seen with the 

 Brookside, and altogether class (in a sporting sense) is generally 

 better represented with them than with harriers generally. No 

 man fond of hounds who visits Brighton should fail to have a 

 look at them, for although the hills are at first a little puzzling 

 to strangers, there are few things more enjoyable than a gallop 

 over their sound old turf on a fine autumn morning, while to 

 the man who loves hunting in all forms the sight of such a pack 

 of hounds as he will there see cannot fail to give more than 

 ordinary pleasure. 



