Fox-hunting 3 7 



Id big woodlaud countries plenty of voice 

 and liorn are essential on the huntsman's 

 part, especially the former, when drawing 

 the coverts, and no part of them that is at 

 all " get-atable " should be passed over. 

 No creature in the world understands the art 

 of " lying low " better than a fox. Although 

 you may well " kick up a row " until your 

 fox is away and hounds after him, there is 

 nothing to be gained by noise when once 

 clear of covert and settled to the line. 

 Then you may afford to be happy until you 

 check — unless, mirahile dictu ! you kill him 

 instead. But in most cases you do get a 

 check, or, to speak more correctly, a good 

 many checks. Again, the field depend upon 

 the huntsman's patience, discretion, and skill. 

 His patience should restrain him from undue 

 interference ; hounds must always be allowed 

 to try and recover the scent for themselves 

 first. If they cannot do so, then the skill 

 of the huntsman is seen to the greater ad- 

 vantage. Perhaps the fox has been headed 

 and turned ; perhaps chased by a cur ; per- 



