WITH THE MADRAS HOUNDS. 29 



od from Crick Covert, and hustling happily over the wide 

 double ditches up to Lilbourne Gorse. A chequered career has 

 been his. The Prince remembered him carrying his horn in 

 Norfolk ; afterwards he handled a pack at St. Petersburgh ; 

 then he donned the white collar during Mr. Nay] or s Pytchley 

 regime; next he took service under Prince Esterhazy ; and 

 now he has pitched his bungalow alongside the kennels of the 

 Madras Hunt. The success and steadiness that have accom- 

 panied him here should do much towards setting him once 

 again at the head of a good pack at home. 



Now let us turn to the hounds. Reader, there is a book 

 that I have no hesitation in saying has long been common food 

 for you and me — at least, if you are a member of that wide 

 class of enthusiasts held in bondage glorious by the devouring 

 mania of the Chase. If you are not, please turn aside at once 

 to other pages ; for here you will read of hunting to the end 

 of my chapter ; and you will only vote me a blatant nuisance 

 if your sympathies lie not with me. Well, given that you 

 understand by what current of feeling one in exile can revert 

 at any odd moment to " Jorrocks," and from him imbibe deep 

 draughts of consolation and refreshment, then I may safely 

 ask you to recall Mr. Bugginson's contribution of hounds to the 

 Handley Cross Hunt. Strange, but true, here is friend 

 Jorrocks close at hand ; and it is no difficult matter to dive 

 among the well-thumbed pages and turn up any passage 

 required. Mr. Pigg observed with much truth, on receipt of 

 the precious cargo, " He was warned they'd be good for nout, or 

 they wadna ha' parted wi 'em at that time o' year ; " and the 

 substance of his remark can scarcely fail to apply in some 

 degree to a pack imported complete, and at such a date, from a 

 firm whose stock-in-trade is entirely dependent on cast-offs. 

 Thus readers will not be surprised, nor I trust will the Madras 

 Hunt be scandalised, when they see the term " miscellaneous" 

 applied to the pack under notice. Mr. Bugginson's draft are 

 described summarily as being made up of "skirters, mute 

 runners, and noisy ones, besides a few worn-out old devils that 



