"He stands at bay, against yon knotty trunk. 

 That covers well his 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 



CRATED STAG ENLARGING THE STAG ^THE CHASE — THE 



CAPTURE. 



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

 '^^' miration for an English hound, liis fondness for an Irish 

 hunter and his weakness 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 like 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 question of sport, hounds, 

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



