" HOC AGE." 41 



hounds, by which he is enabled often to avail himself 

 of sound ground instead of heavy, and perhaps cuts 

 off the whole angle of a fifty or sixty-acre field. If 

 hounds throw up their noses for only half a minute, 

 he can give his horse the full benefit of that half 

 minute ; and half a minute, aye ten seconds, is an age 

 to a horse all but blow^i. When they hit it off, he is 

 off with them ; they don't gain an inch on him : he 

 has no ground to make up, for he is ready to take 

 his place. Long may he keep it both here and in 

 his chase through life ! 



In riding to hounds, I always adopted one plan, 

 which I generally found succeed tolerably well, and 

 for the perusal of very young sportsmen, and still 

 greater snobs than myself, I here offer it as hints to 

 such, but of course to such only. — If you wish to see 

 the end of a run, always make your horse your first 

 consideration. I mean by this, that, w^hatever fences 

 you may have to take, whatever description of ground 

 you may have to ride over, or whatever may be the 

 pace you find it necessary to go, always to the best of 

 your judgment and ability make him do all this with 

 the least possible expenditure of his animal powers 

 and spirits ; and ever keep in mind, that in the 

 beginning of a run you never know where it may end, 

 or how great a proportion of these powers and spirits 

 may be called for. A horse is not like a steam-engine, 

 for which, if you let all the steam off, you can take in 

 fresh coke and water. Young hands are apt to forget 

 this. The moment hounds are put into covert, throw 

 away your cigar, if fancy or fashion has induced you 

 to take one ; and at once pro tern, give all your 

 acquaintance the cut direct, and attend to your 

 business — in other words, the hounds. If you are 



