COURSE OF THE FOX 85 



a fox-chase, we must not forget that there are many 

 jealous riders in every hunt, who choose to assume, for 

 the sake of distinction alone, this position with the hounds, 

 which none, save the huntsman, has any pretension to 

 occupy. You may ride to the right or left of the pack 

 if you please, but you have no right to ride so near as to 

 interfere with their movements or be in their way. I do 

 not recommend taking the down-wind side of the pack, 

 from the idea of a fox always running down-wind when- 

 ever he is pressed, for he has invariabty, when found, 

 some point to make, which he will endeavour to reach 

 without the sUghtest regard to wind or weather ; but 

 because, should hounds, by any means, give you the slip, 

 by being down-wind, their cry will be borne to, not from 

 you, and of course you will have a better chance of 

 recovering lost ground. A fresh fox, when homeward 

 bound, goes as straight as he can go, up or down wind, 

 wherever his point may happen to lie, and any deviation 

 from his direct course may be accoimted for by his meeting 

 obstructions in his path, such as a team of horses in a 

 field, or an old woman in a lane. When barred out from 

 home, driven out of his knowledge of country, or beaten, 

 he will then go down- wind as a last resource, when he 

 has not power to run against it ; but it is not natural, as 

 some suppose, or rather habitual in a fox, to sink the 

 wind, as long as his strength enables him to hold on his 

 line, or he has got a point to reach. 



There is a phrase often used by sporting men in reference 

 to a hunter, " Hold him tight by the head, and shove 

 along," which, if it means anything at all, means a 

 process similar to that adopted by coachmen with their 

 bearing reins, for the sake of keeping their horses' heads 

 well up at the expense of the poor brute's comfort and 



