CAPT. BURNS-HARTOPP'S FINAL SEASONS 179 



turned away he would charge with fearless ardour. 

 In those days he was a bachelor ; but that is some 

 time ago, as the war has claimed his son as one of 

 its victims. 



On Gillson's retirement at the close of Mr. Baird's 

 mastership, the new master secured the services of 

 Arthur Thatcher, and with very satisfactory results. 

 He was, as every one knew, a first-rate horseman 

 and extraordinarily quick, but he also proved a 

 very capable huntsman. We have it on the auth- 

 ority of " Jorrocks " that a huntsman's reputation 

 is at the mercy of every schoolboy and anyone 

 who has been out hunting half a dozen times, so 

 that it is not surprising Thatcher was subject to 

 some adverse criticism. 



It is really very unfair to criticize the methods 

 of a huntsman from the back row, as unless you 

 are in a position to see what hounds are doing, 

 you cannot possibly arrive at a correct judgment 

 of the situation. 



Thatcher was so quick that the majority of the 

 field never saw what he was doing and in conse- 

 quence they accused him of galloping his foxes 

 to death without the aid of hounds. 



Those who know anything about hunting, know 

 that if a pack is not allowed to hunt they are very 

 soon spoilt, and I have often seen Thatcher with 

 his hounds persevere on a bad scent to a successful 

 conclusion. 



The Belvoir had some very enjoyable gallops 

 in the vale, and Sherbrooke's covert proved a never- 

 failing resort when other places were blanks. The 

 Cottesmore also had some short gallops, but nothing 

 that is worth recalling at this distance of time. 



