SEASON 1870-71 39 



one of the hardest men to hounds of the yeomen 

 brigade. " Oh, that brute of a horse, your Grace," 

 he exclaimed, " I'll cut his throat ; he's not fit to 

 live." " No, no ! Mr. Hutchinson," replied the 

 Duke, who always excused his horse on every 

 occasion, " it was not his fault." " But I will cut 

 his throat, your Grace, I will," persisted the good 

 Samaritan, who was always very determined and 

 resolute. Possessing a marvellous control over a 

 horse, Mr. Tom Hutchinson was one of those who 

 seem to be able to make them do anything, and 

 they all knew this, when he was on their backs that 

 they must do their best. Many are the wonderful 

 stories told of his celebrated cob Jack, who could 

 top over anything his own height, and it was a 

 lesson to watch his master ride at a big place, 

 giving each hand a hurried lick so as to get a better 

 grip of the reins as he measured his distance and 

 sent him at it. 



A day of disaster happened on February 14th, 

 when hounds were in Belton Park, for though 

 several foxes were afoot they were so headed by 

 foot people that little good could be done, and then 

 to crown all, the huntsman's horse kicked an old 

 hound, Sportsman, in a gateway and killed him on 

 the spot. Sportsman was a lemon-coloured hound 

 by Sir Watkin Winn's Royal, whom old John 

 Walker, the huntsman to that kennel, said " that 

 there was never such another hound as Royal 

 living " ; he was always singing his praises, and so 

 Cooper used him at Belvoir. Frank tells the story 

 of how when a youth, whipping- in for the Hon. 



