CHAPTER XI 

 CAPTAIN BURNS-HARTOPP 



Season 1898-1899 



WHEN we bade adieu to the Quorn at the 

 end of the last season, we had no idea 

 there would be a change of masters, but 

 Lord Lonsdale was obhged for private reasons to 

 resign at the last moment. A master was re- 

 quired at once, and Capt. Burns-Hartopp came 

 gallantly to the rescue. No man ever worked 

 harder for a hunt or had more misfortunes to con- 

 tend with than this new master. 



It was nearly the first day of cub-hunting on 

 the forest side that Firr had a bad fall, which though 

 it was hoped might only lay him up for a time, 

 proved serious enough to oblige him eventually 

 to retire. The first whip, Fred Gabbitas, was 

 temporarily installed as huntsman ; but though 

 very willing I do not think the art of hunting was 

 born in him, and Leicestershire is not an ideal 

 country to acquire knowledge, particularly when 

 the riding over it is also not exactly a labour of 

 love. At the moment I cannot remember how 

 long Gabbitas carried the horn, but he was eventu- 

 ally succeeded by Walter Kyte, who had been 

 whipping-in to him. Kyte was a very good horse- 

 man, but had little experience in the kennels, and 



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