THE EIGHTH DUKE OF BEAUFORT 



being six p.m. and lots of good foxes about, gave it 

 up. The fox so beat we should have killed in 

 ten minutes. It is wonderful but not uncommon 

 that a man when he sees a fox never knows where 

 he is gone to, or can distinguish his head from his 

 brush." 



The lesson, however, was not wasted, for a few 

 days later we find an entry in the diary, the satis- 

 fied tone of the concluding words being justified 

 by the obvious skill and wisdom of the huntsman. 

 Incidentally I note the keen observation, which 

 perhaps was one of the reasons why the Duke was 

 so successful in all he undertook. 



The diary tells us that old Trojan ran and killed 

 a fox in three fields. 



Then comes a note showing the Duke's kind- 

 liness, and the manner of telling, the quiet humour 

 that marked his conversation and his writing. 



" I might have killed the fox in the withy bed, 

 and they very near had him. I could have turned 

 him into their mouths, but refrained and let him 

 go. Very good behaviour for a huntsman, I 

 think." 



The diary shows too that, like other huntsmen, 

 the Duke had his troubles with the field. Thus 

 on December 7th, 1855, he had met at Foss Lodge ; 

 and, finding a fox, had hunted him through various 

 difficulties, making at least two masterly casts. He 

 had his fox beaten in the covert when some of 

 the field began to crack their whips, and hounds 



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