AND THE DUKES OF RICHMOND. 109 



joke and the laugh went round, the noble warriors 

 fought their battles over again, and recalled to each 

 other's memory exploits on bloodier scenes than the 

 mimic war in which they were engaged among the 

 pheasants. The talk was of " battles, sieges, fortune, 

 of moving accidents by flood and field, of hair-breadth 

 escapes in the imminent deadly breach, of being taken 

 by the insolent foe." 



Occasionally his Grace caused much mirth by his 

 humorous and pungent remarks. I remember one 

 of the company recalling a dangerous exploit of the 

 Earl of Stradbroke's, in which one of his heels was 

 shot off, causing him to walk upon his toes ever after- 

 wards. " I am afraid Stradbroke," said he, " that 

 you must have been a bolter, showing the enemy a 

 clean pair of heels at the time." 



Although enormous bags were not made upon these 

 occasions (such as are reported nowadays on estates 

 where much rivalry exists, in being able to produce a 

 return of the greatest quantity of game killed in a 

 specified time), I doubt whether more pleasure is ever 

 experienced than the scenes which I describe afi'orded. 

 The Earl of Uxbridge (his Grace's brother-in-law), 

 afterwards Marquis of Anglesey, was greatly attached 

 to his Grace. 



Observing the declining usefulness of " Pigeon " by 

 age, and knowing what a deprivation the loss of her 

 services would be to the Duke, he, after a long search. 



