The Hunting Year 



and a broken leg or a split knee-cap is easier 

 come by than cured. 



The heavy going, and the going is heavy 

 — the plough being nearly of the consistency 

 of a hasty pudding — soon tames the horses; 

 indeed they are sooner quieted than their riders, 

 whose excitement does not cease till they have 

 been in a gallop. 



It is especially trying to a huntsman when 

 there is a catchy scent, when he is conscious in 

 his heart of hearts that his favourites are not 

 quite so handy as usual, to find them pressed 

 and over-ridden, knowing all the time as he 

 does, that they and he will come in for a lot of 

 quite unnecessary and not very just criticism 

 when the day's work is over ; and there is little 

 wonder that he feels a little angry at the course 

 events are taking. 



Flying showers frequently are found on the 

 first open day after a long frost, and when they 

 are brewing up, scent is simply as bad as it well 

 can be. That is, it is flashy; and hounds will 

 run on for half a mile on grass as if tied to their 

 fox. Then they will scarcely be able to own a 



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