SEASON 1877-78 103 



some people have found in forming packs and 

 breeding hounds. 



The interval between one season and the next, 

 it can easily be realised, was no idle time for the 

 head of the Belvoir kennel, and a week or inside of 

 a fortnight at the nearest seaside place, so as to 

 get salted, amounted to the year's holiday. "I 

 was never very happy away from my hounds for 

 long," Frank would say, " and I liked to be within 

 hailing distance, so that I could run down in the 

 day and see how they were getting on." Greatness 

 has to pay its own penalty, and Belvoir of all 

 places was looked to by Masters of hounds as the 

 fountain-head for information. The amount of 

 letter - writing was therefore very considerable, 

 together with the copying out of countless 

 pedigrees, to send to those who desired alliances 

 for the matrons of their own kennels. The number 

 of visiting lady hounds to Belvoir every season 

 amounted to over 300. 



Amongst those who came regularly every 

 summer to enjoy a day on the flags with Gillard 

 was an ex-master of the Grove who was stone- 

 blind from the result of an accident in the hunting 

 field. In spite of his affliction he never lost heart, 

 and would ride out on a led horse, saying to Gillard 

 in the most cheery way, " I'm coming to see your 

 hounds, Frank ! " No man enjoyed himself more 

 when he was at the kennel, and as each hound was 

 drawn for inspection, he would feel him all over 

 most critically from head to stern, remarking, 

 "Well, Frank, this is a nice hound if he is straight!" 



