RIDING OVER THE SHIRES 195 



their own cast and hit off the hne, or failed to do so, 

 and been put right by their huntsman in a very short 

 space of time, and be away again so that you will 

 never have a pull at your horse. Thus you start 

 on the next stage at a disadvantage with the men 

 who were close to the pack when they checked, since 

 they have had the inestimable benefit of a pull back 

 into a trot. How great that advantage is you will 

 soon learn in Leicestershire, for the chances are that 

 you will have galloped down one slope and up an- 

 other and jumped six or seven fences before you reach 

 the hounds. Even the best horse will be the better 

 for catching his wind for a moment after this, but, 

 since you find hounds running on when you reach them,' 

 you cannot pull up. So on you must gallop and 

 jump, if you really mean to keep with them. Now, 

 your only chance of saving your horse is that hounds 

 will not run quite straight, and you must on a scent- 

 ing day try to make the best of your bad start by 

 easing him as opportunity offers. The very best 

 horse cannot go on up and down the Leicestershire 

 hills and over the ridge and furrow for a long time 

 at the pace which the Pytchley, the Cottesmore or 

 Mr. Fernie's bitch pack will run. 



You may take liberties with your horse, perchance 

 saying to yourself, "No fox can stand up before 

 hounds very long at this pace." Of that, however, 

 I am not so sure. The last Duke of Rutland used to 

 say that, with an old dog fox in front, it was six to 

 four on the fox, and Mr. Fernie's huntsman, Charles 

 Isaacs, who hunts hounds in one of the best scenting 

 countries in England, has told me the same. He 

 had, in fact, the day before he spoke of this, been 

 beaten by a fox that had been raced to Launde Wood 

 from Glooston, and, though after this the fox was 



