Bob Ward. 231 



regularly in the Vale. All know and lament his 

 sad end. 



Bob Ward. 



Bob Ward was a leviathan huntsman ; a man 

 of tall stature, broad in the chest, and on a large 

 scale altogether. His size and weight, however, 

 did not prevent his shewing great activity. He 

 was quiet, civil, and most respectful in manner, 

 and a general favourite with those with whom he 

 came in contact. In listening to his conversation 

 one would never have suspected Bob of having 

 regularly attended school, as in his pronunciation 

 he was at variance with orthodox prosody ; and 

 in using such words as baker, gate, or lane he 

 would put in as many " a's " as he could. 



Bob began in the ''baaking" business at 

 Brixworth. In that village there then resided 

 one Squire Wood, who kept harriers, which 

 attracted Bob's attention ; and by some means he 

 " got in with " the Squire and was trusted to hunt 

 these hounds and prepare them for the season. 

 Bob had a " chap " — a term by which he always 

 afterwards addressed his whippers-in — to turn the 

 pack to him. 



The following account I should not dare to 

 write had I not heard it from Bob's own lips. I 



