[ 102 ] 



consequence will the sooner tire his horse. 

 If you observe a good sportsman in the 

 field, he will ride a little to the right or to 

 the left, so as to command the pack, with 

 his eye on the leading hounds, and take 

 every advantage of ground when they turn 

 with the scent on either side. Of course, 

 I do not mean to recommend skirting ; for a 

 skirting rider is as bad as a skirting hound, 

 and will often do as much mischief. How 

 valuable, therefore, is a horse with a good 

 mouth; a hunter cannot be said to be perfect 

 without it. When the pack comes suddenly 

 to a check, if a sportsman has his eye on 

 the leading hounds (which he ought to 

 have), he will in a moment see the event, 

 and of course halt short of the spot to 

 which they brought the scent. When I 

 make use of the word halt, I don't mean 

 that every man should go to drill; but 

 I know this, if many that call themselves 

 sportsmen had a little drillings it would do 



