CAPTAIN SHABBYHOUNDE 251 



head ; but he does not trust the keeping together of 

 his coat to these usual articles, for he has it secured 

 by a diminutive steel bit, which, with a curb chain to 

 his watch, add, very materially, he considers, to his 

 sporting appearance. No flash man was ever seen 

 without pins or brooches, sometimes both, and 

 Shabbyhounde has a large gold pin representing two 

 race horses contending for a prize, in the full stride 

 of extended limb. His cravat is a rich purple and 

 black-flowered satin one, and his waistcoat a worked 

 one, blue ground, with yellow roses. We need 

 hardly add that he rides with a large cutting whip. 

 He is a little man, though hunting dress has the 

 singular effect of making some little men look taller 

 and some tall men shorter than they are. Of course 

 the Captain keeps his moustachios, this being part of 

 his stock in trade, but he is not prodigal in whisker, 

 neither does he indulge in flowing hair, at least not 

 in winter. 



We will now glance at him in action. He is 

 always in a desperate stew about a start. His whole 

 thoughts and conversation turn upon this point. He 

 never cares to see the fox go away. He never looks 

 to see whether the body of the hounds are out of 

 cover, but as soon as a hound speaks, he begins to 

 settle himself in his saddle, gets his horse firmly by 

 the head, and keeps his eye on what he considers 

 the foremost man to be ready to start the moment 

 he sees him move. Thus he goes like a jockey, creep- 

 ing to the starting post all arms and legs, jealous in 

 the extreme if any horse's head comes before his. 

 "Hold hard!" is the only hunting term Shabby- 

 hounde knows, and most liberally he vociferates it 

 when any one gets before him. It is a term, 

 however, he pays little attention to, if he is first — 

 the Master not up, and an expectant purchaser in 

 the rear. What places he will then go at ! what 

 risks he will run ! 



