HOW TO RIDE TO HOUNDS 83 



patiently in your saddle, awaiting the issue or exit of the 

 animal, taking care to get away from the point at which 

 he may attempt, or it may be attempted on the part of 

 the huntsman, to make him break. On the fox making 

 his appearance outside the covert, you may dispense 

 with the formality or civility shown to foxes generally 

 by enthusiastic sportsmen, of taking off your hat and 

 wishing him good morning ; and it will be fortunate 

 (supposing a large field assembled) if he is not turned 

 back by some compliment of this sort into the hounds' 

 mouths. 



When the fox is fairly away (should the scene be laid 

 in the fashionable shires of Leicester or Northampton) 

 it is not improbable that a couple of hundred of the finest 

 fellows in the world will be immediately in his wake 

 before a hound makes his appearance outside the covert. 

 This, no doubt, is a very ticklish moment for a nervous 

 man and a fidgety horse ; but keep your own and your 

 horse's temper within bounds. Your business is with 

 the hounds, not with the horsemen, if you aspire to the 

 character of a true sportsman. Let these harey-starey 

 fellows go — wait for the hounds — at least, until the first 

 few couples have settled down to the scent ; then, with 

 one eye on them and the other forward to your fence, go 

 along. Ride wide of the pack, about fifty yards right or 

 left, as the wind may be, taking care to keep under it, 

 but, above all, avoid riding on the line of the hounds, lest 

 the death of Jupiter or Solomon be laid at your door ; 

 for depend upon it, the man who kills a favourite hound 

 is never forgiven or forgotten by the Master or huntsman, 

 who, although they may say little, think a good deal 

 about that individual who has the misfortune to destroy 

 or seriously damage one of their pets ; and not without 



