Zbc lEarls Spencer ssi 



I ran out, came up with them, and had no difficulty in 

 keeping up with them. Only five or six horsemen 

 were near, and their horses looked as if they had not a 

 leg to stand upon, and could scarcely raise a walk. We 

 all went down to the river, and from one of its pools out 

 jumped the stag all amongst the hounds. He just 

 managed to hobble along for a few yards up the 

 slope of the green meadow, with the dogs lopping 

 along beside him, and just behind him, when he 

 came to a few very low hurdles. He could only just 

 get his forelegs over them, and then fell right among the 

 leading hounds. He kicked out right and left with his 

 hind legs, scattered his pursuers, turned down again 

 towards the river, tumbled over the hurdles once more, 

 shook himself free from his enemies, and again sought 

 the water. The hounds were now whipped off, and 

 some rustics plunging into the water, the leg-weary 

 animal was secured. Though quite unable to run, it was 

 surprising to see the courage and strength he still re- 

 tained. He fought and struggled with head and neck, 

 and it required the efforts of some strong men to make 

 him go in the direction they required. I was afterwards 

 shown a place in the park where he had fallen, through 

 being unable to jump a ditch not above two or three 

 feet wide, with a fence about a foot high.' 



It was during his first tenure of office in Ireland that 

 Lord Spencer expressed a strong wish that Mr Craven, 

 who was then Master of the Pytchley, should bring his 

 hounds to Dublin for a week's hunting in the Meath 

 country, but, owing to an unfortunate accident to Dick 

 Roake the huntsman, the interesting event did not come 

 off. The Lord-Lieutenant, however, was determined that 

 Irish sportsmen should see how the Pytchley men 



