244 ^^'- Arkwright and the Oakley. 



this mission, and, while so engaged, he fell ill of 

 fever and died. 



In 1 85 1 George Beers returned to the Oakley 

 Hounds as huntsman. Mr. Arkwright was 

 passionately fond of hunting, devoting the closest 

 attention to it in field and kennel ; and embraced 

 the opportunity which now offered of learning 

 from so clever a man as his huntsman. 



When Beers left there was a good pack of 

 hounds ; but during his absence the breeding as 

 well as other matters had been mismanaged ; 

 and all had gone wrong. After his return nothing 

 was omitted that could be done to put matters 

 right again ; and at the end of three years' 

 apprenticeship to Beers Mr. Arkwright took the 

 horn. 



Having been a visitor in that country for 

 several years, and getting to know and like the 

 Master, my visits continued ; indeed, they became 

 more frequent ; and I there enjoyed so much 

 sport that the title of this book binds me to give 

 some account of it. I will not describe the 

 country further than by saying that the Yardley 

 Chase end of it Vs^as neutral with the Grafton, and 

 was a very favourite place of mine in which to see 

 good fox-hunting. There was, perhaps, no better 

 country in which to test the qualities of a pack ; 



