8 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



chase, without a fox. It is true, of course, that we 

 seldom kill the fox we started with ; that two or three, 

 or even more, foxes go to make up a run. Now, if I 

 were hunting hounds myself, I should regret the change 

 both for the sake of the pack and for my own, but 

 among the followers, even the man who cares for the 

 working of hounds will generally know nothing of the 

 change, as it is sometimes difificult even for an ex- 

 perienced eye to detect a fox that has been hunted. 

 It is only if we watch the pack closely that, from the 

 added eagerness of their manner in the chase, as they 

 change from the fading line of a weary animal to the 

 fresh scent of the lately found fox, we can infer a 

 change at all. And this change is an imaginary evil, 

 for when we go home at night after hunting all the day, 

 our satisfaction is greater than if we had spent half our 

 time looking for a fox. We have had two horses out, 

 and each of them has done a fair day's work ; and 

 what more can we desire ? 



Not only are there always foxes to hunt, but, owing 

 to the small size of the coverts, the hunting is in the 

 open, so that, even if it is not a very good hunting day, 

 we can see all that is going on. On some days hounds 

 absolutely fly, for over these big pastures there is 

 nothing to stop them, and they flit through or over 

 the fences in a wonderful manner. 



The courage and determination of a foxhound in 

 forcing his way over or through a stiff country is 

 simply marvellous. The obstacles seem fairly to melt 

 before his single-hearted resolution to drive forward as 

 long as the scent holds. We may well be galloping 

 our very best and yet not be able to hold our own. I 

 have seen hounds more than once three fields ahead — 

 and Leicestershire pastures, remember, run to many 

 acres, and are indeed often the size of a small estate — 



