188 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



and portly build; but he is at the meet on a trusty Norfolk 

 cob which looked as if it could carry a ton. While he may not 

 cut it down across country with the younger bloods, he will see 

 quite as much of the fun, for he knows every lane and gate 

 in all the country round. It is liis own land the hunt is to ride 

 over. His sons are out on hunters of liis own breeding. His 

 granddaughter is by Iiis side sitting astride on a little Welsh 

 cob which will carry her to perfection and, as you can easily 

 imagine, greatly to her grandsire's dehght. 



What a crowd there was! Something over a hundred 

 mounted riders assembled at this meet, wliich is a hundred 

 short of the usual attendance at the spring meet or when the 

 fixture is at Ascot or at Tring Park, the home of Lord Roths- 

 child. 



Here come the hounds, headed by the huntsman, and the 

 whipper-in, followed by a score or more of riders who 

 have purposely lingered to keep them company. If the hounds 

 looked a grand lot at the kennels, what shall we say of them 

 now, this twenty odd couple of dog hounds selected with care 

 as to size and markings? As they come trotting on to the 

 village green beside the superbly mounted horseman and wliip- 

 per-in in their pink hunting coats, white breeches and black 

 velvet caps, the crowd receive them with a cheer. At this 

 moment Mr. Leopold de Rothscliild drives up with the other 

 members of his family. 



By the time they have answered the salutations of their 

 friends, and a few strangers and out of town visitors have 

 been introduced, their mounts are led up, their over- 

 coats are dropj^ed off and in a moment more they are in the 

 saddle. 



The most noted, if not the most interesting personage is 

 yet to arrive. We have not long to wait. 



"The stag! The stag! Here comes the stag." Again the 

 crowd on the green parts like the waters of the Red Sea to 



