298 Next to the Ground 



nically hare, or rabbit scent. When the pack 

 in full cry runs off on it, it is said to run riot. 

 It is the same with running to earth and un- 

 earthing. Under strict hunting-law, a fox 

 going to earth — that is sheltering himself in 

 a hole in the ground, outside the limits 

 of the hunt, was safe for that chase. By 

 comity of huntsmen, though, he might be 

 scared out of the earth, unearthed, and run 

 down. He must not however, be dug out. 

 " No spade in the hunting-field " is hunting 

 law, fixed as that of the Medes and Persians. 

 Neither can a fox be found out of hunt-bounds 

 — damages will lie against the hunt so finding. 

 Anciently the finding was unkennelling. Now- 

 adays when the fox goes away he is said to 

 break cover. Since he was a beast of chase, 

 along with buck, doe, badger or brock, mar- 

 ten and roe, his flesh was ranked venison, 

 although he was " a beast of stinking flight " 

 as opposed to such " beasts of sweet flight " 

 as the hare and the hind. 



Tennessee fox-hunting is not a thing of 

 pomp and circumstance. It turns out no gor- 

 geous gentlemen in " pink and leathers," 

 neither does it demand a small fortune in- 

 vested in hunters. There is rarely a regular 

 meet. Hunting begins in October, after the 

 tobacco crop is well in the barn. Hounds 

 and huntsmen racing through a field of ripe 



