APPENDIX. 357 



Then outspake Colonel Howard, 



Grandfather of the Hunt, 

 To all a word of counsel 



He spake as is his wont — 

 " Gentlemen and fellow-sportsmen, 



Do give the hounds fair play. 

 How can they hit the line, with all 



Those horses in the way ? " 



But hark ! the cry is " Forrard ! '" 



And with hat cocked aside, 

 See Jones pick out the biggest fence, 



And take it in his stride ; 

 Thinks he " These craning duffers 



Will keep us here all day ; 

 Will no one dare to follow 



When ' Chasseur ' shows the way ? " 



Then the fierce music of the chase 



A welcome chorus sounds ; 

 The fox knows well its echoes tell 



Of fast approaching hounds. 

 Then that good dog, old Commodore, 



Streams gaily to the front, 

 And Rosebud shows the Essex Hounds 



Can run as well as hunt. 



Then Sutton's baronet ahead 



Seems riding in a race. 

 And Bailey, tootling on his horn, 



Maintains his pride of place. 

 Behind him breathless comes the field 



Still tailing as they go. 

 Shoulders and heads wa'gging above 



And spurs at work below. 



