The Grenada gazette., 1888-01-07


pack together, riding behind the maste
and whipping in the dogs that ar,
disposed to straggle and wander away
. When the master mounts and rides int
the yard, the dogs are brought out. ant
the whole pack gathers about his horse
feet. yelping in eagerness, and watch
= ing his face for the command to follow
The dogs know what is coming, and ar,
impatient to be put on the scent The,
keep close to the master until they gel
to the throw-off or the place whore the
scent begins. When they find the scent
away they go, and it takes good horse
and good rider to keep near them.
Perhaps the most interesting part
of the sport is watching the hounds do
their work. They have their individual
peculiarities, that the master will dis
cover, and they learn his ways and his
voice and submit to his guidance.
There is much jealousy among the dogs,
and when they are keen on the scent it
is amusing to watch them and see how
they try to get the best of each other.
The older dogs get the scent and follow
it, and the rest run with them, spread
| ing out to the sides SO as to catch the
scent on sharp turns when the leaders
overrun and lose it. Sometimes dog
that is on the extreme will get the scent
and give tongue and all the rest will
turn to follow him. That is called
Scoring to cry, and is pretty sight
1t gives dog that is behind the lead of
the pack, and the old dogs will strain
every nerve to regain their lost posi-
tons. Sometimes the leaders of the
pack will spread out to both sides in
search of the scent A dog tagging
behind will keep on his course, come
right down through the center of the
pack, get the scent, and scurry away in
front of the whole lot. have seen old
dogs dodge around piece of brush or
cover, understanding that the fox has
gone through, and take up the scent on
the other side, leaving the younger and
inexperienced hounds to work through
the brush and bring up the rear of
the procession. To make the hounds
run keen it is necessary to give them
something to run after besides the odor
of anisc. So we have fox turned out
at the head of the run and let the dogs
chase him. The fox is released from a
bag about half an hour before the
hounds come into sight, and one old
dog is put upon his trail to keep him
running and prevent his being surprised
by the pack. The old hound can not
catch him. and even if he could get up
to him the fox would beat the dog off.
1t is very seldom that single dog will
tackle a fox. have seen fox spring
ont from the middle of a pack and
escape scot free. Very often our foxes
escape and l am glad to see them get
away. don't like to see the hounds
tear a fox, and am not in favor of using
foxes any oftencr than is necessary to
keep the hounds keen in running. On
Hampstead Plains the fox has every
thing in his favor, and if he does not sit
down and wait until the hounds are
close upon him he has a pretty good
chance to save himself. In laying the
scent with the drag variety in the run is
secured. At intervals the man picks up
the drag and carries it, making a break
thatgives the hounds check. While the
dogs are trying to recover the scent the
horses get breathing-spell and the
riders who have fallen behind have a
chance to catch up. The pack spreads
out and works over the ground until
one Of the dogs gets scent and gives
.ongue, when all the hounds are called
.ogether by the master and the run is I
.esumed.
Hunting on Long Island is more
dangerous than it is in England, because j,
he fences are worse. A five-foot rail
ence is an ugly thing to face, and both :,
he horse and rider must have nerve to
axe it. An English hedge is trihing >,
obstacle in comparison. In approach
ne hedge, the horse can Judge his ;,
tride because he sees solid object be-
ore him, but he sees through fence i.
md is liable to misjudge the distance.
n jumping hedge ditch is something =,
# an /.iia ~ taking off, l think, and
no harm done if the horse
touches in going over. laeause his legs
will brush through the top, II horse :,
fails to clear stiff rail-fepce anl.strikes y y
the top, he will hurt his legs or geua :,
bad fall There are no gaps in Long - y
Island fences, and very few gates
through which u timid hunter may ride.
A man who follows the Meadowbrook
hounds must make up his mind to ride,
and ride well. II he hasn't the nerve to '
take every fence as he comes to it he
lad better stay at home.
"Our men get falls enough to make
he sport exciting. In one season got !
falls, broke mywrist, smashed i,
ny nose. broke finger, and was rolled i
lpon great many times. was riding !,
green horses that year. Broken collar
zones, arms, legs and shoulders are a
common results Of falls over rail fences. !
t is very easy to get a fall if one does 8
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