58 Recollections of the Vine Hunt. 



to George's great disgust, took Whiskey for his own 

 riding. Early in that season we had a very good ring 

 from Nutley, by Somerdown, through Manydown and 

 Tangier Parks, and round by Long Coppice and North 

 Oakley back to Nutley. The first part was slow, from 

 the going off of a white frost, but in Tangier Park 

 hounds suddenly began to run hard, and slipped away 

 from most of the field, including Mr. Chute on Whiskey. 

 George and I, with two or three others, chanced to be 

 well with them. On approaching Nutley we came to 

 a large fallow, where the hounds, though not actually 

 brought to a check, had to feel their way across it, 

 feathering on a weak scent which they could scarcely 

 speak to. George was giving them his whole atten- 

 tion, as at such a critical moment he ought to do, 

 when up came Mr. Chute in the parallel furrow by 

 George's side, and began vexing him with questions. 

 * George, where have you been } What hounds have 

 been at head .-* Which of them have been doing it } 

 George, why don't you answer me .'' ' George, still 

 intent on his hounds, vouchsafed neither look nor 

 word. At last, as the master reiterated his questions, 

 the servant turned round to him and said, ' You have 

 gone and taken away my best horse from me : why 

 don't you ride up and look for yourself, if you want 

 to know what hounds are about .-* ' 



On another occasion we were drawing Blackwood, 

 a cover very full of riot, neutral between Mr. Chute 

 and the H. H. As Mr. Villebois himself and several 

 other members of that hunt were out with us, it was 

 desirable that everything should go well : but alas ! 

 in a short time more puppies were running hare in 

 various directions than any one whipper-in could pes- 



