FAMOUS SERVANTS OF THE HUNT 



Jem Hills, who had been at one time with Long 

 as whipper-in, became the huntsman of the separated 

 country, with twenty-five couple of Badminton 

 hounds to start with, ten couple from Lord Radnor, 

 ten couple of unentered hounds from Mr. Drake, 

 nine and a half in a draft from the Warwickshire, 

 a couple and a half from Mr. Moreton,^ and one 

 couple from Belvoir. As Will Long bred a lighter 

 hound than Philip Payne, so Jem Hills went beyond 

 his master in his efforts to breed for quality and 

 speed. 



The Heythrop country makes a quick, decisive 

 style of hunting necessary. Scent there is not 

 good. Its fences do not stop horses, and it had 

 in those days at least a good many undergraduates 

 in the field. Thus Jem Hills lifted his hounds *' more 

 frequently than any other huntsman of his day,' 

 and one who hunted with the Heythrop for three 

 seasons can bear witness to the efficiency of his 

 methods. 



The following instance is given. Hounds found 

 a fox in Sherborne Cow Pasture. There was not 

 much scent, and Hills "seemed determined not to 

 lose a chance whenever a check occurred." A 

 master of hounds from a good scenting county 

 who happened to be out said that ** in his opinion 

 hounds so treated would never hunt when required 

 to do so." Yet these hounds would work for Hills 

 and put their noses down, and spread and try for the 

 ^ Afterwards Earl of Ducie. 

 157 



