COERCION 



instrument to the spurs, as a stimulant to increased 

 pace and momentary exertion. 



You will have little trouble with this kind of 

 hunter while hounds are drawing. He will seem 

 only too happy to stand still, and you may sit 

 amongst your friends in the middle ride, smoking, 

 joking, and holding forth to your heart's content. 

 But, like the fox, you will find your troubles 

 begin with the cheering holloa of " Gone away ! " ; 



On your present mount, instead of avoiding the 

 crowd, I should advise you to keep in the very 

 midst of the torrent that, pent up in covert, 

 rushes down the main ride to choke a narrow 

 handgate, and overflow the adjoining field. 

 Emerging from the jaws of their inconvenient 

 egress, they will scatter, like a row of beads when 

 the string breaks, and while the majority incline 

 to right or left, regardless of the line of chase as 

 compared with that of safety, some half-dozen are 

 sure to single themselves out, and ride straight 

 after the hounds. 



Select one of these, a determined horseman, 

 whom you know to be mounted on an experienced 

 hunter ; give him plenty of room — fifty yards at 

 least — and ride his line, nothing doubting, fence 

 for fence, till your horse's blood is up, and your 

 own too. I cannot enough insist on a jealous 

 care of your leader's safety, and a little consider- 

 ation for his prejudices. The boldest sportsmen 



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