228 STAG-HUNTING 



and fast rules in it, but centuries of observation and 

 experience have shown that the signs mentioned can 

 generally be depended on. Though of course they 

 vary somewhat according to circumstances and soil in 

 each case, everyone who calls himself a harbourer 

 should be well acquainted with them, and should trust 

 to them rather than to pothouse reports, or the 

 chance of being able to watch a stag into cover when 

 he comes off his feed. 



To do his work properly a harbourer should be on 

 his ground the afternoon before hunting, and should 

 look round a bit then. Next morning he should be 

 abroad very early. In France he invariably has a lymer 

 with him, who may be one of the pack, but has always 

 been specially trained for this work. With us, having 

 long distances to traverse he generally rides. Such 

 hounds as the Comte de Canteleu describes would be 

 very useful, but there is no tradition even of their 

 existence in our country. Miles used to declare that 

 his old mare could wind a deer, and would let him 

 know by her manner when she did, and I believe it ; 

 but I never heard of his trying to hunt a line with her. 



With or without a lymer the procedure is similar ; 

 the harbourer makes his casts round the outside of 

 a cover or chain of covers till he hits a line, or finds a 

 fresh slot pointing towards it. In either case he will 



