George Beers, Huntsman, 69 



proceeded to charge us with having ridden over 

 the pack. Incur defence I said : 



'' I wish your lordship had witnessed what 

 occurred, I am sure you would not then blame 

 us. The hounds had all gone out of the field to 

 our right, and we had to jump about ten yards 

 apart, a very high thorny hedge, when in the air 

 w^e saw hounds running along a path under our 

 horses ; but we did not touch one. The fox had 

 been headed and turned towards us, and we could 

 not see them sooner." Upon this we were 

 acquitted with a caution. A more sensible or 

 reasonable man than Lord Southampton never 

 lived. 



A short time before we had killed a fox in 

 Blakesley Field, and a young farm-pupiVs horse 

 kicked a hound and killed him. I was sorry for 

 the young fellow, and went at once to my lord, 

 who had moved on, and said apologetically : 



" We have had a bad job happen, my lord." 



'' Whaf's the matter? " he enquired. 



" A young man's horse^ has kicked Bluecap, 

 and killed him ! " 



'* The best hound we have ! " his lordship 

 sorrowfully exclaimed. 



" It is, my lord, and the young man dare not 

 himself come to tell what he had done." The only 



