THE R5:V. JOHN RUSSELL. 27 



But more of that anon ; when Russell himself, 

 a few years afterwards, started a pack of otter- 

 hounds, and, as he says, " did little more than 

 disturb the sleeping echoes of the North Devon 

 combes." 



It was but a short time since, namely in 

 1876, when he was dining with the present 

 Lord Fortescue at Castle Hill, that the remem- 

 brance of his first entry with staghounds in 

 1 8 14 was brought back to his mind with vivid 

 effect after the lapse of so many years. He 

 had said " good night " to his hospitable and 

 kind host, and, homeward bound, was making 

 his way towards the hall door, accompanied by 

 some of the junior members of the family 

 holding on to his skirt, when Lord Ebrington 

 begged him to relate when and where he had 

 seen his first stag killed. 



" With your grandfather," was the ready 

 reply; "we found him in Padwells, and killed 

 him on the Barle, under Slade Bridge, on the 

 30th of September, 1814 ; and there he is," 

 added Russell, catching sight at that instant of 

 the head and antlers of the very animal, under 

 the frontlet of which appeared a tablet in- 

 dicating the above particulars. 



Those who have once heard Russell tell a 

 story, especially if hunting were the theme, will 

 never forget the charm of his graphic touches, 

 the intensity of his tone, and the point he had 



