SOME HUMOURS OF THE CHASE 287 



generally of a fine flow of words, an eloquence which 

 is sure to be highly entertaining — to some of the 

 listeners, at all events. Yet, strange to say, those to 

 whom this gift is given often appear unaware that 

 they possess it, and profess entire forgetfulness of 

 the words which have excited so much admiration — " 

 possibly, and perhaps, astonishment. It is as though, 

 during the excitement of the chase, some spirit takes 

 possession of them, and they speak with other tongues 

 than they use for the ordinary purposes of con- 

 versation. 



There is a well-known tale which relates how a late 

 celebrated M.F.H., when making preparations for a 

 " dig," overheard a horseman of Semitic birth remark 

 that in his country they would never stop to dig a 

 fox in the middle of a good scenting day. " In your 

 country ! " said the wrathful M.F.H., turning upon 

 him ; " if you were in your country you'd be mounted 

 on a jackass chasing jackals round the walls of 

 Jerusalem !" 



A friend chaffing him afterwards about this bold 

 flight of fancy, asked, " What on earth put such a 

 thing in your head to say to the man ? " 



" Gad, I don't know ! " was the reply. " Since you 

 all say so, I suppose I must have said it ; but how it 

 came into my head I don't know." 



"Where's the d d woman coming to now?" groaned 



a great amateur huntsman once, as a lady, valour over- 

 coming her discretion, landed upon a road in far too 

 close proximity to hounds, whose heads were up. Half 

 an hour later the pair were jogging along side by side. 

 " I suppose you are aware that you called me ' a d d 



