"He stands at hay, against yon knotty trunk. 

 That covers ivell Ids rear; his front presents 

 An host of foes." 



Somervile. 



XVI 



A DAY WITH LORD ROTHSCHILD'S STAG- 

 HOUNDS 



NEW year's eve in LONDON — THE FOG THE MEET — THE 



CRATEU STAG ENLARGING THE STAG THE CHASE — THE 



CAPTURE. 



A SPORT loving English friend who knew the writer's ad- 

 miration for an English hound, his fondness for an Irish 

 hunter and his w^eakness for riding to hounds whenever oppor- 

 tunity afforded, said, "You ought to pay a visit to Lord Roths- 

 child's staghounds and the hunting stables of his brother, Mr, 

 Leopold de Rothschild at Leighton Buzzard, for the pack is one 

 of the best to be found in the Kingdom; and finally, if you 

 would hke a cross country gallop over some of the most beauti- 

 ful hunting country in the Queen's domain, you should not 



fail " 



"But I have not had the pleasure of meeting his Lordship." 

 "Never mind that, you simply write him a letter saying you 

 are from America and you would like to visit the kennels and 

 stables, and your way will be made smooth." 



"On any other subject," continued my friend, "it might be 

 difficult, but when it comes to a (piestion of sport, hounds, 

 hunters or hunting, there is no barrier. An English nobleman 



