10 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



Although Mr. Corbet kept hounds for so many years 

 for the amusement of the county, without receiving any 

 subscription, he was, nevertheless, very tenacious of any 

 one hunting them when he was absent. The hounds, 

 one day, had not been able to find a fox, after trying the 

 covers from Alveston Pastures to Oakley Wood, where 

 they left off. The gentlemen took the direct road home, 

 whilst Mr. Barke, Bill Barrow the huntsman, and Jack 

 Barrow and Jack Jones, the whips, returned home with 

 the hounds across the covmtry. Just as they reached 

 Middle Hill, a fox was seen to pass through a gap about 40 

 yards before them. The huntsman debated for a short 

 time whether he should let the hounds go or not, but being 

 pressed by Mr. Barke, he consented to have a short run. 

 The pack had no sooner got within 20 yards of the spot, 

 than off they set, with their heads up and sterns down, tmtil 

 they reached Bowshot, where Bill Barrow stopped them, 

 and took them home. 



Mr. Corbet had been impatiently inquiring if the hunts- 

 man had brought his hounds home, and whether Barke 

 was returned ? The waiter replied in the negative, and 

 received orders to send Mr. B. up to the Master when he 

 came home. As soon as he entered the room, he was 

 accosted by Mr. Corbet, in his usual way — ' What makes 

 you so late, I suppose you have been up to your d — d 

 tricks ?' Barke replied, the hounds had seen a fox, and 

 Bill Barrow could not stop them. This made matters 

 worse, for it was impossible to deceive so good a judge as 

 Mr. Corbet upon this point ; and he said — ' D — n me, 

 Barke, never tell me that again ; Bill Barrow can stop 

 any hounds in England ; any hounds in England, by — , 

 Never you tell me that again, Barke. I keep hounds for 

 my own diversion, and not Bill Barrow's ; he can stop 



