194 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



knowledge of his craft, and of the habits of 

 that animal, so clearly evinced by the nature 

 of the '^find;" the self-possession and cool- 

 ness he had so opportunely shown in prevent- 

 ing him from being chopped when first on 

 foot ; his numerous and judicious casts when 

 there appeared not to be a particle of scent ; 

 the successful manner in which he had con- 

 tended throughout the day with what to some 

 would have proved the most bafiiing diffi- 

 culties, and managed to keep his pack on the 

 very best of terms with their quarry, — all tend 

 to show that the author of the Diary of a 

 Huntsman and of the Life of a Fox could 

 in an exquisite degree combine practice with 

 theory in that most difficult science of the 

 chase; a pursuit followed by so many, but 

 in which are found so few proficients, such 

 as the late Master of the Hambledon Hounds 

 has ever proved himself to be; and on this 

 occasion all agreed that he had fairly sui'- 

 passed himself. 



