RIDING TO FOX-HOUNDS 



to see you in the middle of his favourites on a 

 strange horse. It is better to keep the second 

 whip between yourself and the hounds, jogging 

 calmly on, with a pleasant view of their well- 

 filled backs and handsomely-carried sterns, taking 

 care to pull up, religiously murmuring the orthodox 

 caution — "Ware horse !" when any one of them 

 requires to pause for any purpose. You cannot 

 too early impress on the hunt servants that you 

 are a lover of the animal, most averse to interfer- 

 ing with it at all times, and especially in the 

 ardour of the chase. If the size and nature of the 

 covert will admit, you had better go into it with 

 the hounds, and on this occasion, but no other, I 

 think it is permissible to make use of the hunts- 

 man's pilotage at a respectful distance. Where 

 there are foxes there is game, where game, riot. 

 A few young hounds must come out with every 

 pack, and the rate or chee7' of your leader will 

 warn you whether their opening music means a 

 false flourish or a welcome find. Also where he 

 goes you can safely follow, and need have no 

 misgivings that the friendly hand-gate for which 

 he is winding down some tortuous ride will be 

 nailed up. 



Besides, though floundering in deep, sloughy 

 woodlands entails considerable labour on your 

 horse, it is less distressing than that gallop of a 

 mile or two at speed which endeavours, but 



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