178 TREATMENT OF HIOTOUS HOUNDS. 



fox, seldom failing to catch him ; all they required 

 was a firm, determined master, who would keep 

 them out of the kennel from sunrise until sunset, 

 every day in the week, until they had learnt better 

 manners. Rest to such dare-devils is ruin. Within 

 one month I would have engaged to make these 

 madcaps do anything I told them (except speak), 

 pass by every covert in the country without at- 

 tempting to break into it, and, confirmed in vice as 

 they were, draw through riots of all kinds without 

 a tongue being heard. Patience and perseverance 

 would accomplish this, although in such a case we 

 should have to use a little whipcord at first start- 

 ing. I should have taken them out in the morning 

 from five o'clock until nine, putting the worst in 

 couples together — not a quiet hound with a vicious 

 one, lest Jack's thong should fall on the innocent ; 

 trot them briskly along, and when they return to 

 the kennel give them a little lap for breakfast. At 

 ten o'clock take them out again on foot into vil- 

 lages and farm-yards, where they might see cur 

 dogs and sheep, one whipper-in being in advance, 

 and the other some distance behind. Keep them 

 out until one o'clock ; rest for an hour, out again 

 with the horses for three or four hours. Feed at 

 seven in the evening, and walk them again from 

 eight to nine, and before leaving them for the 



