156 PINK AND SCARLET 



hounds throw up their heads, how very many more 

 foxes would come to hand ! 



Instead of doing it, however, they will move 

 about after the Huntsman making his cast, pro- 

 bably talking, and even " whistling," all the time. 

 The result being that hounds and Huntsman have 

 the uneasy feeling of being pressed on ; the steam 

 and smell of the horses, not to mention that of 

 the riders, which must be very perceptible to the 

 fine nose of the hounds, is ever with them, and, 

 should a back cast be necessary, the ground is all 

 foiled. 



Why will people spoil their own sport ? 



Because many are ignorant that they are doing 

 so, some are jealous of the others, and nearly all 

 are like sheep, and move on because other people 

 do so. Let us not be like any of these, but let us 

 remember that the thinsf for the field to do at a 

 check is to keep still. 



With the Huntsman, however, as with the Com- 

 mander in the Real, a check is the most anxious 

 time. He must be all eyes and ears, keep his head 

 cool, and, while the hounds are making their own 

 cast (in the Real, while the men in little knots are 

 holding on to some bit of cover), rapidly turn the 

 situation over in his mind. 



How far did they bring it ? What headed him ? 

 In which direction was his old point } What is his 

 new one .'* Is he running short because he is nearly 

 beat ? etc., etc. 



The Commander in war must be even quicker, or 



