266 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



even see the New Forest Deer-hounds, that he had 

 brought into being, after he resigned. He was one- 

 handed, and so was a contemporary of his, who also 

 hunted deer, Mr Basset of the Devon and Somerset, 

 a most lovable man — there is no other word for it — 

 with whose hounds I saw three-and-thirty " warrant- 

 able deer" set up. 



Of Irish Masters my experience has been more 

 limited. Major St Leger Moore always seemed to 

 me the right man in the right place, and even the 

 unruly Kildare field listened to him. Also in Meath 

 was the country suited with a Master whilst the late 

 Mr John Watson held office. But my personal know- 

 ledge of these Masters was very slight. 



Nor have I known many Scottish M.F.H.'s — to one 

 of whom I have already referred. Another I could 

 almost put in the same list as Mr Powell, as a Master 

 with whose hounds I saw much good sport without 

 ever seeing the Master out himself But I did once 

 see the Duke of Buccleuch (it is to him that I refer) 

 with his hounds, the meet being at his fishing lodge 

 at Bowhill, really quite out of his usual country. 

 But there was never any want of " lang Lords Scott " 

 out with the pack, and the man who held his own with 

 them could flatter himself he had gone pretty well. 



Amongst eccentric Masters I always look back with 

 a chuckle to the late Admiral Parker of the Dart- 

 moor. Indeed, I fancied that some of his field 

 attached themselves more to the Master than to 

 his hounds, probably knowing that whilst sport in 

 the rough Dartmoor country was uncertain, the 

 Master was a sure draw for some saying which 

 would that evening set the mess - table in a roar. 

 Especially vivid is a memory of being lost with 



