140 PINK AND SCARLET 



Master does not object, much better go in, unless 

 the covert is a very small one, or has no rides. 

 This advice is given in spite of the fact that one of 

 the oldest (but certainly not the best) huntsmen in 

 England at the present day said, " Inside the covert 

 is no place for gentlemen, they get in the way, and 

 kick the hounds." But there was a reason for this. 

 He had just been surprised behind a big tree taking 

 a pull at his "jumping powder," and wasn't pleased. 



On the other hand, Beckford says, speaking of 

 the Field, " Could you entice them all into the 

 covert, your sport, in all probability, would not be 

 the worse for it." 



Let us, however, consider the question impartially. 

 We come out to hunt, and to see and learn all we 

 can of, and from, the "sport of kings." Not the 

 least good part, from both points of view, is to see 

 a fox well found. This we shall not do if we stay 

 outside the covert. Nor shall we even hear much 

 of it, for probably two-thirds of our fellow "sports- 

 men " who will be there, will be engaged in telling 

 each other the last good story, the last scandal, or 

 what won at yesterday's steeplechases, etc., etc., and 

 in doing this they will keep up an incessant cackle 

 resembling that made by the inhabitants of a roused 

 farmyard. This noise, which we can always hear 

 in the smoking-room of the club when we wish, 

 will effectually prevent us hearing- for ourselves 

 when hounds are drawing up to their fox. 



Not having heard anything, and therefore having 

 no ideas of our own as to what is likely to happen. 



