32 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



made him lose a good deal of pleasure in riding to 

 hounds. Unfortunately for himself he was jealous, 

 which meant when hounds were running he could 

 not fully enjoy the companionship of those equally 

 well placed. Capt. (Sugar) Candy was one of the 

 hardest men across country in the early days of Mr. 

 Coupland's reign, and in addition was an excellent 

 horseman with first-rate hands. The best man I 

 ever remember for getting a bad horse over Leicester- 

 shire was Capt. (Brooksby) Elmhirst, and he was 

 always to be seen in the first flight with hounds. 

 He was always keen, and was ever attentive to what 

 was going on at the covert side, so that it very seldom 

 happened he was left at the start. 



Many other men have sparkled brilhantly for a 

 season or two, then their Hghts have faded, and 

 Melton has known them no more. With fair nerve 

 and a good stud of horses anyone can take a place 

 in the front rank, but few are able to retain that 

 place after some heavy falls have calmed the ex- 

 uberant rashness of youthful valour. Capt. Boyce 

 was one of the quickest men to hounds, and never 

 rode a "cocktail." He and Capt. Riddell are 

 familiar figures in our earhest recollections of the 

 hunting field, but they had passed the zenith of their 

 fame when I appeared on the scene. 



Capt. Molyneux also had earned his reputation 

 as a hard rider before my day, but could still go to 

 the front when he wished. His hands were per- 

 fection, and he fully understood the art of using 

 them. Mr. Ernest ChapHn of Brooksby flourished 

 somewhere about the same date, and could hold his 

 own with the best. 



In those days there was no better man across 



