THK DOCTOR 315 



Guinness's Stout, nor from Guinness's Stout to the title of 

 Ardilaun, one of those possessed by the family who brew the 

 most noted stout in the world. No Arab sheik was ever 

 more devoted to his Arab steed than Dr. Grubb to his 

 ''Ardilaun." A day on his back is worth a king's ransom. Full, 

 as the Doctor describes him, of the poetry of motion, he is an 

 undeniable hunter. You can count on one hand those who 

 have hunted longer with the E.H. than the Doctor and not 

 find one that loves the sport more. So much so that he will 



tell you 



'Tis better to hunt in the fields for the health unbought 

 Than fee the doctor for the nauseous draught. 



I have seen bigger and I have seen smaller meets at Sheering Street, 

 but never such an unexpected, never a nicer draw for a fox. By lane 

 towards Down Hall, and by field to Heathen Wood ; crack of whip in the 

 rough fields beyond ; so by friendly gaps to Moor Hall and its tenantless 

 elder groves. Very little undergrowth there for a fox. Single file over the 

 Harlow road to the snug little osiers near the line ; expectation high, dis- 

 appointment great, in the Harlow Bury cabbages. 



The Doctor,* off duty for an hour, nicks in, looking uncom- 

 monly pleased, and by a masterly movement Thrushes Bush 

 was attacked from the rear ; no foot people about, no one 

 to disturb this warm covert ; we ought to have found. We 

 reached the old corner for a start in twos and threes, and 

 no one was left in the ditch by the road, and we went through 

 another five minutes of futile excitement ere, with the execution 

 of a right-about turn in the direction of Matching Park, 

 conviction dawned upon us that we should find at last, for 

 it had never failed us this season: but for the first time that 

 day faces grew long as minute after minute went by and halt 

 the covert was drawn. Was there a scent in covert? Not 

 much, I think, for the big bold fox that crossed the ride right 

 under our feet went leisurely out of the covert, and the 

 hounds could scarce own to his track. 



Three abreast we rode down the wood to the " holloa 

 away," and we spread out like a fan as we cleared it to a 

 fair, even, and honourable start, as with heads up and sterns 

 down the dogs were away for the Lavers. Two small fences, 

 and the huntsman, Master and Capt. Bruce chose the low gate, 

 and Mr. E. Ball flew the fence— four feet higher, ten feet 

 wider, the chesnut would have cleared it in his free, rocketing 

 bound. A moment's halt to see hounds race round the big 

 piece of water, and turn sharp to the right, through the 



* Dr. Grubb. 



