I presume that you intend to ride one horse throughout the
day, and that you wish to see all the hunting that may come in
your way. This being so, it will be your study to economize your
animal's power, and to keep him fresh for the run when it comes.
You will hardly assist your object in this respect by seeing the
wood drawn, and galloping up and down the rides as the fox
crosses and recrosses from one side of it to another. Such rides
are deep with mud, and become deeper as the work goes on; and
foxes are very obstinate, running, if the covert be thick, often
for an hour together without an attempt at breaking, and being
driven back when they do attempt by the horsemen whom they see on
all sides of them. It is very possible to continue at this work,
seeing the hounds hunt, with your ears rather than your
eyes, till your nag has nearly done his day's work. He will
still carry you perhaps throughout a good run, but he will not do
so with that elasticity which you will love; and then, after
that, the journey home is, it is occasionally something almost
too frightful to be contemplated. You can, therefore, if it so
please you, station yourself with other patient long-suffering,
mindful men at some corner, or at some central point amidst the
rides, biding your time, consoling yourself with cigars, and not
swearing at the vile perfidious, unfoxlike fox more frequently
than you can help.
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