154 iktnos ot tbe trDuiitmo^^fielb 



of ground must be covered), was, as a rule, changed half 

 way, and a fresh one worked them to their destination, 

 which was some hotel near the place of meeting. Here 

 dry things, which were brought for every one, Avere left 

 with the drag and hound van, and one and all started 

 fresh for the sport. On their return, luncheon was laid 

 out, and having, if needful, got rid of wet garments and 

 refreshed themselves, all went home as comfortably as 

 they had gone to covert. I need not point out what a 

 wonderful help to hounds and men is such a liberal 

 style of doing things in a country where trains serve 

 them very little, if any ; and one of the most amusing 

 things I ever witnessed was to see the self-satisfied air 

 with which the hounds trotted up into their van, as if 

 they thoroughly appreciated (as no doubt they did) 

 being carried comfortably home, instead of having to 

 drag twenty miles through heavy dirty roads. There 

 was no voice of authority wanted to get them into it. 

 Fond as I personally am of change, could I select my 

 own locality for hunting, there was no country I would 

 sooner drop into than the Duke of Beaufort's, as, inde- 

 pendent of the magnificent scale on which everything is 

 conducted, the country itself affords so much variety. 

 On the Severn side, and that next to the Vale of White 

 Horse, they have grass country second only to the pas- 

 tures of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. On the 

 Bechampstead side they can race over downs as fine as 

 any in England, often without a fence to throw a horse out 

 of his stride ; and in the intermediate portions you have a 

 wall country which is exceedingly pleasant to ride over 

 (at least for those who like walls). Here is change 

 enough to suit any man, and there is scarcely any 

 countrv in it that can be termed bad.' 



