5acf? /n>ustcrs 137 



not only tamed them, but brought them to a state of 

 absolute perfection. When he had thoroughly organised 

 the pack, he took the Pytchley country, and showed good 

 sport there, but soon threw up the mastership, and sold 

 his hounds to Lord Middleton. Then he commenced a 

 roving career, hunting in Lincolnshire and half-a-dozen 

 other shires, but never staying long enough in any 

 country to make his mark. 



Jack Musters was a clever and successful breeder of 

 hounds, and both in the field and in the kennel he was, 

 ' The Druid ' declares, ' the undisputed king of gentle- 

 men huntsmen.' 



The ' king of gentlemen huntsmen,' however, was 

 occasionally given to plajdng tricks which the Hunt justly 

 resented — especially as it was solely by the assistance of 

 their subscriptions that he was able to hunt at all. 



On one occasion, when the meet was at Wiverton, 

 near or on the River Smite, then in flood and overflow, 

 all the adjacent meadows being under water, he played 

 the following prank : — A very large field was in attend- 

 ance ; this he observed, and whispered to his whippers- 

 in not to follow him over the bridge, but quietly to slink 

 away to a given spot. He then took his pack, followed 

 by the subscribers, over the bridge, when having gone a 

 mile or more below it, he made his clever horse walk 

 over an almost impassable foot-bridge, to aim at which 

 he had to ride across three flooded fields by a way only 

 known to himself Having gained the side at which he 

 had posted his whippers-in, leaving his thoroughly well- 

 sold field staring in wild wonder at the manoeuvre, he put 

 his hounds into Skinner's covert, found immediately, and 

 had a splendid run all to himself to Stobb Holts ! 



I have said that Musters was a splendid athlete. 



