INTRODUCTION 69 



ful deer-stalking be so great, the disappointment of 

 an unsuccessful day must be correspondently greater. 

 It is fair, therefore, to take this as the next test. 

 Here salmon-fishing, as grouse-shooting in the 

 previous test, may be put out of court. No one will 

 deny that an absolutely blank day's fishing is a dis- 

 appointment unmitigated by any other circumstances 

 attendant on the sport. The fisherman has been en- 

 gaged in monotonous exertion all day long, and 

 experiences the sensation of having wasted his time 

 as completely as if he had been using a pair of dumb- 

 bells. To the grouse-shooter the disappointment is 

 also severe, since, as has been already shown, he had 

 reason to expect better results, and he is probably com- 

 pelled to admit that the cause of failure is preventable. 

 The fox-hunter, on the other hand, though the hounds 

 may not have killed their fox, or even given a good 

 run, though foxes are scarce, and scent bad, may 

 have thoroughly enjoyed himself. He has had at 

 any rate pleasant companionship ; he may have tried, 

 and been pleased with, a new horse ; while in spring, 

 when the days are long and the weather generally 

 fine (though bad for scent), there is no reason why- 

 he should not have thoroughly appreciated the mere 

 ride. 



But for the deer-stalker, if he is not driven home 



