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them a great deal of good ! It is the general 

 opinion that when hounds check, the fox is 

 forward ; and the first cast a huntsman 

 ought to make is a forward one. I cannot 

 say I think so ; on the contrary, if there 

 are no sheep, deer, cattle, &c. to foil the 

 ground, and the fox has not been coursed 

 by a cur-dog, why should they check if he is 

 gone on ? The greatest probability is, that 

 he has headed, or made a short turn to 

 the right or left ; therefore, if you cast at 

 all, a forward one is the least likely to suc- 

 ceed. There is one rule however, from 

 which you should never deviate, — let your 

 hounds try first before you attempt to 

 make a cast yourself; hounds that are 

 not accustomed to be " lifted," will make 

 a superior one to any human being. It is 

 very extraordinary, yet nevertheless true, 

 that many people go out for the sake of the 

 riding part only; the hunting is a minor 

 consideration ; and if the hounds do their 

 work well or ill, it is of little consequence 



