266 STA G -HUNTING 



difference. Even deer will get fairly bogged oc- 

 casionally, and a horse in the same place would no 

 doubt be in worse difficulties. Riding to the stag- 

 hounds, therefore, generally resolves itself into riding 

 in groups. There may be a score of men out, each 

 of them capable of taking the best line, but if there is 

 only one best line they will naturally ride together, 

 followed by those who cannot go alone, while other 

 groups will be seen making for every point of the 

 compass except that toward which the hounds are 

 heading, some to gain a place of vantage whence 

 they hope to get a view of the chase ; others whose 

 horses are not fast, or are not fit, to make a short cut 

 to what they conceive to be the deer's destination ; 

 while others, who do not want to go far from home, 

 will hang about on the chance of hounds turning back 

 toward them. And of course not unfrequently hounds 

 do come round to those who have ridden to points ; 

 but if the run be a fast and a straight one, nobody 

 has a chance but those who have got a good start, 

 and have stuck as close as they can to the pack 

 throughout. 



To the doing of this there is no royal road, but 

 one thing is certain : namely, that if you wish to be 

 with hounds after they have crossed a valley, you 

 must descend into that valley with them, for they will 



