The Sporting Dictionary, and Rural Repository, Volume 1 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

CHALLENGE

—is a term used for the first tongue of a hound after throwing into covert, to draw either for fox, or an out-lying deer. Upon the challenge of a single hound, if he is staunch, and to be relied on, a general silence ensues; ears are all open for a repetition, and every eye for a view; the huntsman (who well knows how far to depend upon the truth of the declaration) instantly encourages the pack to the promised point, by "hark to Gamboy!" "hark to Galloper!" or whatever may be the name of the favourite hound so to be relied on. The hounds by this means are immediately rallied to the precise spot, and ready to go off in a body with their game, as a lucky find frequently follows an unexpected challenge; more particularly in the present fashion of going to covert, at a time of day when our predecessors of only one generation past used to return.