io6 Recollections of the Vine Hunt. 



'Thank you, gentlemen; now pray ride just as you 

 please.' 



Mr. Villebois was an excellent judge of everything 

 connected with hunting. It happened, more than 

 once, that Sawyer hunted the hounds for some weeks, 

 when Forster had been disabled by an accident.* 

 On these occasions the average of sport and of blood 

 was quite as good as usual ; so that many began to 

 think that Sawyer was just as clever a huntsman as 

 Forster, and that the office of whipper-in was below 

 his deserts. But his good master shook his head, and 

 said, * No ; he has been in luck, and has had better 

 scenting weather than usual ; but he is no huntsman : 

 and if ever he should be put into that situation, it will 

 be found so : his chief merit is that his success has not 

 made him conceited ; and that he has the good sense 

 to remain satisfied with the work which he can really 

 do well. After Mr. Villebois' death. Sawyer became 

 huntsman to another pack of foxhounds in Hamp- 

 shire, and I believe it was generally thought that his 

 old master's prophecy was fulfilled. 



Mr. Villebois' kennel and residence were at Harms- 

 worth, about three miles from Alresford, so centrally 

 placed that most of his meets were within eight miles 

 of him. He hunted four times a week : on Mondays, 

 in the northern part of his country, which had formerly 

 been hunted by Lord Stawell and by Mr. Russell ; 



* One of these accidents was a bad fall into a deep stony 

 lane, near Theddon Grange, then called Phoenix Lodge. The 

 hounds were checked at the time, and I was informed that as 

 Forster lay for a short time stunned, they stood in a circle round 

 him whining, and showing great distress, as if supposing him to 

 be dead. 



