Hunting the Wild Stag, "jj 



Somerset, chats gaily with the group of ladies and 

 gentlemen assembled in front of the farm-house, and 

 is full of anecdote, and never tired of talking of the 

 gracious reception he met with, when on a visit at 

 Sandringham, from the Prince and Princess of Wales, 

 who fully appreciated the kind-hearted, courteous, 

 and genial old sportsman. It is said of him that 

 when one of the chiefs of a tribe of gipsies — when 

 there were gipsies in Devon — died, his last request 

 was that he might be buried by '' Parson Kussell," 

 which desire was fulfilled, his reverence riding forty 

 or fifty miles to perform the ceremony. 



Then there is Earl Fortescue, a good sportsman 

 and a staunch supporter of the hounds, to whom I 

 am introduced, and chat pleasantly for a while. 



Next I have the honour of making the acquaint- 

 ance of Mrs. Froude Bellew, of Rhyl, whose husband 

 is Master of the Dulverton Foxhounds. An elegant 

 horsewoman, and a bold and graceful rider is Mrs. 

 Bellew. By her side is her sister, Mrs. Rowcliffe. 

 These are fair specimens of Devonshire ladies, who, 

 my experience teaches me, are as a rule elegant, 

 graceful, and pleasing, as anyone would expect who 

 has read Kingsley's descriptions of the Devonians. 

 Then there are Mrs. Bouverie, Miss Jekyl, and Miss 

 Leslie, who ride well and regularly with these 

 hounds. Colonel and Mrs. Festing, accompanied 

 by their two lively sons, all well mounted, who have 

 ridden over from Dunster or Miuehead, Lord Rock- 

 savage, Mr. Bolden, from Rugby, Captain and Mrs. 

 Elmhirst, from the Shires; Mr. Nicholas Snow, the 

 Master of the Stars of the AVest, a celebrated pack 

 of foxhounds hunting in this locality ; Mr. Chorley, 



