io6 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



how I pinched a start, or how near I came to 

 wrecking one of the best hunts on record in 

 County Limerick. 



The name of CHffe recalls many sporting in- 

 cidents. For many years it had been the custom 

 of regiments quartered at Ballincolig, County 

 Cork, to take over the hounds that hunted the 

 county west and north of the barracks. The 

 first year of our sojourn there. Captain F. Forester 

 was Master and Huntsman. On his leaving the 

 regiment the job was handed over to me, and 

 my friend Cliffe was good enough to become my 

 assistant in the field : most enthusiastic he proved, 

 and very helpful. In a very closely fenced country, 

 as that party of County Cork is, foxes are apt to 

 run short and twisty ; in fact, one expected such 

 conduct ; but there were a few outlying covers, 

 so that if a fox took a right line the hounds 

 would run over a country second to none. This 

 did not happen often ; so sometimes, instead of 

 drawing a cover, we first tried to get the varmint 

 on foot by sending three or four men into the 

 cover for the purpose of making as much noise 

 as possible. Meanwhile Cliffe would go well out 

 in front, on rising ground if possible. After a 

 signal from him, up I would bring the pack, hot 

 foot on the line, and these tactics turned out 

 successful several times. In order to scout like 



