18 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



they spoke to a fox," replied Gillard, brightening 

 up, " I was fortunate, too, in getting suited 

 with a horn, which is half the battle," he added 

 modestly. " I must tell you the story of how I 

 came by my hunting-horn, for I used it the whole 

 time I was huntsman, and it went many times to 

 London as a pattern to be copied for other masters 

 and huntsmen. It was made of copper, which 

 always gives a better note than silver, and it came 

 into my possession when I whipped -in to the 

 Belvoir. I was hunting up lost hounds one evening 

 at Aswarby, and had occasion to call on an old fox- 

 keeper and odd man about the place employed by 

 Sir Thomas Whichcote. At one time in his life 

 he had hunted hounds in the north of England, and 

 he could give the best ringing view halloo that I 

 have ever heard. When hounds were drawing the 

 Aswarby coverts the old fellow was sure to be 

 there making the welkin ring with his screams, to 

 the great delight of Sir Thomas. When I went to 

 see him he showed me his hunting-horn, and I 

 thought at once that it had a good note, and got 

 him to let me try it. It was a longish copper horn, 

 easy to blow and full of music. ' You have got no 

 further use for it,' I said, ' you may as well give it 

 to me, I may be huntsman some day if I am lucky ! ' 

 But the old man would not hear of it, and it ended 

 by my giving considerably more for the old horn 

 than I could have bought a new one. Directly 

 Cooper the huntsman tried it, he wanted to buy it 

 from me, but I never would be persuaded to part 

 with it, and when I went to the South Notts as 



