SOME MASTERS OF HOUNDS 267 



*' the Admiral " in a fog on the moor, when blasts 

 from the horn varied with "damns" from the 

 voice, and quaint monotone in great variety. Not 

 only were we lost, but the Master had lost both 

 his hounds and his huntsman. The latter, by the 

 way, would have been no great loss had it been a 

 permanent one. 



Another queer Master was the late Mr dAvigdor, 

 whose sporting books, signed "Wanderer," seem already 

 to be forgotten, as I see articles with that signature 

 appearing in The Field. In personal appearance Mr 

 dAvigdor always reminded me of the "A.D.C." in 

 Handley Cross, " all teeth and hair, like a rat- 

 catcher's dog." Moreover, he wore a double eye- 

 glass. I never knew him as a Master, for his 

 M.F.H. experience was Irish (a good deal of it is 

 to be found in his book, A Loose Rein) ; but his 

 heart was in hunting, and his death was the result 

 of accidents with his stag - hounds — the West 

 Surrey. 



I am often asked, "Who was the best Master- 

 huntsman you ever saw ? " and am much puzzled 

 how I should reply ; but I should put Mr Lort- 

 Philips very high on any list, and he was so keen 

 that I have always been surprised that he should 

 so entirely have given up hunting hounds when 

 quite a young man. I think, on the whole, the 

 present Duke of Beaufort would by most people be 

 put at the top of the tree of amateur huntsmen; 

 and I have a high opinion of the brothers Curre, 

 who for years have always shown sport in divers 

 poor-scenting countries. None the less do I incline 

 to the idea that the best arrangement is a good 

 professional under a good Master. Moreover, there 



