QUALITIES OF A HUNTSMAN 105 



result — confusion. The sound of the horn, when in 

 judicious hands, is hke a word spoken in due season, how 

 good is it ! But I have known disastrous work with a 

 young Master and young huntsman, each blowing ap- 

 parently against the other, to the annihilation of sport, 

 and distraction of the pack. To render the horn effective 

 it should never be used except on particular or pressing 

 occasions ; hounds then know its meaning, and fly to it 

 eagerly ; but the perpetual toot, toot, toot, one hears with 

 some packs, recalls to mind the fable of the boy and the 

 wolf. Hounds care no more for this continual tooting 

 than for the braying of an ass. Two or three sharp 

 twangs, when the fox is found, and again when he breaks 

 covert, will get the pack well together and away ; but 

 beyond this the horn should be rarely handled. 



As I would concede to a huntsman in the field full and 

 free scope to display his talents and ingenuity, so should 

 I expect a proper attention to his duties in every other 

 respect. What noblemen and gentlemen have condes- 

 cended to do, is certainly not too much to expect from a 

 huntsman ; and however tired and fagged he may be 

 after a hard day, he is bound to feed his hounds before 

 taking his own dinner, and not leave them to the kennel- 

 man and whipper-in. There is no objection to his horse 

 being brought to his door on the hunting morning, and 

 I approve of every mark of deference shown by the 

 subordinates of the establishment to a man of his high 

 calling. This is as it should be — ^he is one in authority, 

 although under authority also ; but the modus in rebus 

 must not be overlooked either ; and I call it conceit, 

 almost amounting to impertinence, in any huntsman 

 dismounting at his kennel door, and after giving his horse 

 to the helper, handing over his hounds to the feeder for 



If 



