CHAPTER I. 



First Impressions about Hunting. 



" There's only one cure for all maladies sure, 

 That pierceth the heart to its core, 

 'Tis the sound of the horn, 

 On a fine hunting morn, 

 And what is the heart wishing more ? " 



Being descended from a line of ancestors 

 whose proclivities lay chiefly with the chase, 

 it is not singular that the venatorial blood 

 which conrsed through their veins should have 

 been transmitted to those of my humble self, 

 and so it turned out, and from my boyish 

 days the music of hounds has had a fascination 

 which will only be cancelled when the last 

 long journey has to be taken. 



Receiving my bapteme de chasse at the 

 hands of old Goosey, I well remember riding 

 home with my face about the colour of the 



