FOXES AND THE EVERLASTING QUESTION 173 



On many a shoot there would be quite a good 

 number of wild-bred pheasants if it were not for 

 foxes. As it is, the holders of shoots must go to 

 the expense of rearing pheasants (the net cost of 

 which is considerably increased by the presence of 

 foxes), or go without, unless they care to run the 

 risk of being made a kind of sporting scapegoat by 

 hunting-people who have no understanding of the 

 word ' selfishness.' There is a story of a keeper who 

 had been treated with harshness by a hunt till he 

 became tired of it. The question of foxes was left 

 to his discretion. It came to pass that a meet was 

 appointed to draw this keeper's coverts, when the 

 following conversation took place between him and 

 the master. M. : ' Any foxes about ?' K. : ' Plenty.' 

 M. : ' Where are they ?' K. : ' Gone to ground.' 

 The keeper spoke the truth in grim earnest. 



There is an increasing number of keepers whose 

 employers have no prejudiced objection to foxes 

 and hunting, provided their game and shooting do 

 not suffer obviously. The keepers are told that 

 game is the attraction ; on the question of foxes 

 there is discreet silence. It is to the everlasting 

 credit of keepers without end that, prompted by the 

 sympathy of true sportsmanship, they try to do what 

 often might work smoothly, if hunting-people would 

 forsake dictatorial ways and accept suggestions. A 

 keeper is bound to serve only one master, but in the 

 cause of sport often is willing to take the risk of 



