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 



