The Life of a Great Sportsman 



known practically all our lives, said to me, " I never knew 

 Maunsell buy a bad horse himself, or recommend one to a 

 friend, or fail to detect the slightest blemish in a hound." 



A wealthy buyer of fat stock told me that the secret of his 

 success lay in being able to appraise a live ox at its dead value 

 to a pound, and that he was born with this faculty ; and I 

 believe my brother was born with the power to tell what horse 

 or hound was worth to a fraction, whether to follow the pack 

 across country or hunt his fox. 



In 1909, just after the festive season of Christmas had come 

 and gone, I accepted a long-standing and cordially-renewed 

 invitation from Maunsell and my sister-in-law, and journeyed 

 from South Cornwall to Edmondthorpe. I had a desperate 

 longing to enjoy a day's hunting again, even on wheels, and 

 felt sure I should have the chance, as the hunting season with 

 the Cottesmore was in full swing. Maunsell and his wife 

 seldom missed a day, and I knew they would be sure to give 

 me the fondly anticipated treat if possible. 



I wanted also to see them both in the saddle again, enjoy- 

 ing the fine old sport, and to live, if only for one day, in the 

 delightful past, when in their company I had enjoyed many 

 a good day's hunting with the Brocklesby. 



Not having seen Maunsell for some years, it was rather 

 a shock to me to find that his hair had turned snow white, 

 but as it was always very fair, and was as thick as ever, his 

 appearance was not altered in any appreciable degree by 

 this fact. 



His face, although rather weather-beaten by his outdoor life, 

 looked remarkably young, and absolutely uncareworn. 



I had not seen my nephew Jack, their only child, since he 

 was a boy just leaving Harrow, and well do I remember the 

 intense pride with which my brother brought him up to me 



164 



