320 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



boned, tall figure of the Gibraltar Jorrocks. He wore 

 a full beard, too, bushy and unkempt. A weather- 

 beaten pink, hunting-cap, and brown tops were the 

 leading features of his hunting costume, and stuck into 

 one of these latter he always carried a huge knife, for 

 what reason I cannot say. At this time his invariable 

 mount was a raw-boned liver chestnut. I believe his 

 name was Holmes, and that he was employed in the 

 Gibraltar gas works. Peace be to his ashes ! If he 

 died at the Rock, he now lies appropriately enough in 

 the only cemetery I know which is encircled by a 

 racecourse, and within earshot of the kennels. 



A meet of the Calpe Hounds did not differ very 

 greatly from that of many provincial English packs. 

 There were always only a few " pinks," more black, 

 and a good deal of nondescript attire. The horses 

 used were small, averaging about fifteen hands, Barbs 

 and Spanish, and mostly stallions. My stud was very 

 small in those days, and I generally fell back at least 

 one day a week on the hack hunters of the place. 

 One of the best of these was a broken-kneed bay, 

 "Jack-o'-Lantern." Then there was another which no- 

 body else had patience to ride. This was a little bay 

 a very good hunter, but cursed with more than mule- 

 like obstinacy. I generally managed to get him as 

 far as the main road, where he would stop. Flogging 

 and spurring was no use ; he only acknowledged such 

 attentions by sullen kicks. All I could do was to get 

 his quarters against a wall so that he couldn't jib, and 

 wait patiently till some other sportsman passed on his 

 way to the meet. Then he would follow steadily 



