126 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



course ravishing melody. The modern fox-hound can 

 hunt and race, and with a man who can handle the 

 instrument as our great huntsmen in the Shires 

 have done, sport must needs be good in spite of 

 difficulties. 



The instrument with which the modern huntsman 

 has to work is therefore a fine one and is improving. 

 But in the conditions of sport in the grass countries 

 the best pack of hounds in the world cannot show 

 sport by themselves. The mistake often made in 

 this connection is that, having bred a wonderfully 

 perfect animal, we do not sufficiently recognise the 

 limits of his powers. In the old state of things when 

 there were no railways, fewer hedgerows — it is wonder- 

 ful that foxes resist the temptation to run up and 

 down these as much as they do — not nearly so many 

 foxes, and undrained land, it was possible for hounds, 

 if left alone, to hunt a fox to death. This is much 

 more difficult now, and consequently the importance 

 to sport of the huntsman has increased. The best 

 huntsman is the man who can obtain from his hounds 

 the utmost amount of work, who can leave them 

 to themselves, but who knows their limits ; can see 

 when they have come to the end of their resources 

 and, without delay or hesitation, come to their assist- 

 ance. Such a huntsman was Tom Firr ; such too was 

 William Goodall, Jr. ; and their success was great, 

 although neither of them had a remarkably excellent 

 pack of hounds to work with. 



With a huntsman of the highest rank, however, 

 this is to a certain extent compensated by the trust 

 which his hounds repose in him, the quickness with 

 which the pack flies to the horn, and the ready and 

 willing obedience which they give to his voice when 

 he cheers or restrains them. That the huntsman 



