50 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



the boat arrived within hailing distance, he would call out—" Eh ! lads, I'm 

 " that glad to see you " ; to which our response would be, " Good morning, 

 " Master."' If there was any delay in mooring the boat, the pause became 

 somewhat embarrassing, which the Master Would relieve by some cpiiii at the 

 expense of J. B. Morgan or J- Gibbons, or one or other of his cronies. 



As we landed from the boat, lie would shake hands with each one 

 of us as we came up the gangway, and marcli up with us, talking loudly 

 in pleasant chaff, to watch us eat a sandwicli at tlie hotel. Then ensconcing 

 himself in the far corner inside the 'bus, where followed him the older 

 members, such as Morgan, Roper, Green, \Villiamson, Gibbons, Newton, 

 •Stevenson, «S:c., he would hold them all well entertained, and smothered in 

 tobacco smoke, during the drive to the meet. Arrived, the Master would 

 slowly extricate himself from the bus, and greet the Iiuntsman and hounds, 

 the latter surrounding him, and fawning upon him as if thev loved him : as, 

 no doubt, they did. After " throwing off," he would tram[:) about with the 

 hounds until they " found "' and went merrily away, when he would exclaim, 

 " 'Inhere, my job's done. I've found you a liare ; now make the best of it." 

 Settling himself down to " shanking it '' after the hounds, although he never 

 ran, somehow or other he managed to be about the right place, and saw 

 most of the sport. The merry music of the pack in the distance, invariably 

 drew from him the exclamation, " Qucks ! my little dawgs." 



As evening drew on he would say, '• Here ! I'm oft" to a sure find," and 

 wend his way to the pub. (the beaglers' name for the house where tea is pre- 

 pared) to enjoy his tea and " methody cream.'' Here, if sport had been 

 fair, he would be supremely hai)py, rendering all around him equally so, with 

 his jovial wit and sprightly badinage ; and when the time of departure arrived 

 he would say to the waitress — " I'2h I my lass, here's a shilling for my tea, 

 " and sixpence for my gin, and sixj^ience for yourself; and you're better worth 

 " it than the gin is :" the girl, meanwhile, standing by wreathed in smiles 

 and blushes. 



On Saturday evenings, during the hunting season, it was the Master's 

 custom to have three or four beaglers to dinner. Each member received an 

 invitation once every season, the fortunate committee more often. The 

 invitation was given verbally on tlie i)revious Saturday, if the intended diner 

 was out, otherwise he received a note oil the following Tuesday. 'J'he invi- 

 tation was always given thus : — " Beagler will you do me the honour to 



" worry a gowse at my house next Saturday ?" No one ever declined this 

 invitation who could by any possibility accept it. The charm of his hos[)i- 

 tality was so delightful; the welcome all beaglers received from Mrs. and Miss 

 King (who idolized the husband and father, and entered heartily into all his 

 pleasures) so cordial ; the home surroundings so beautiful, with the oKi oak 

 furniture, old silver, and Indian curios; the caniaradenc of the beaglers so 



