PRANKS OF YOUNG HOUNDS 143 



of the story is that not a hound was kicked or injured 

 by the horse. After this Httle divertissement, it is almost 

 needless to state that the youthful hopes of the family, 

 or pack, became exceedingly fractious, and required a 

 considerable outlay of whipcord on their carcasses ; in 

 short, from that time, they were ever on the look-out for 

 an escapade, and even after being entered at fox, would 

 break away from the huntsman for any covert they took 

 a fancy to, and, by Jack's account, they kicked up the 

 devil's own row in some gentleman's park before he and 

 the other whip could get at them ; but when they did 

 catch these young vagabonds, they were well served out 

 by Jack and Tom. 



It may be gathered from this that well-bred fox-hounds 

 are composed of very excitable materials, or high mettle, 

 which, when brought to bear on their legitimate chase, 

 is of the very first importance. The young hounds 

 mentioned as having run the huntsman's horse were an 

 unentered draft from Lord Fitzwilliam's kennel. The 

 most riotous puppies generally make the best hounds 

 when steadied by work, and on that account should 

 never be allowed rest or respite until that object is accom- 

 pHshed. There is, however, as I have before mentioned, 

 a great want of attention to this practice in large establish- 

 ments, where the young hounds, when sent in from their 

 walks, are kept penned up within the kennel walls for 

 weeks together, without air or exercise. It is not to be 

 wondered at, therefore, that when first let loose they 

 should run after the first object they catch sight of. 

 Highly bred and highly fed, their exuberant spirits must 

 find vent somewhere ; but if taken out to exercise in 

 couples, from the day of entering the kennel, they would 

 never think of rimning donkeys and sheep-dogs. I might, 



