10 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



triever. He would find a pheasant, hare, or rabbit, in 

 a hedge, and make the most amusing contortions to 

 show me they were there, and to bring me up in time, 

 looking round every moment to see if I was coming ; 

 and when killed, if they fell over a hedge or other 

 obstacle, he would bring them to me, but if in the 

 field where I stood, he would softly " mumble" them 

 till I took them from the ground. From use, his 

 nose became very good; and once put him on a 

 prowling cat's scent, he would run her through any 

 amount of " foil," by game, and either tree her or kill 

 her. My faithful dog evidently paid me the ques- 

 tionable compliment of deeming that his master 

 liked a row, for he never lost the chance of provok- 

 ins: one with some man or some animal when I was 

 at home. As I grew up, and when I first joined 

 the Coldstream Guards, then but a boy, he always 

 found out when I had come home for a day, although 

 perhaps I arrived at night when he was in his 

 kennel, and the next morning always saw him in 

 the sun with his shoulder against the stable wall, 

 whence he could command as many doors and gates 

 as possible, in the first place to watch for me, and 

 in the second to wage war with anything he thought 

 objectionable. 



Among his enemies was a tailor from Harlington, 

 who used to fit the servants ; and on to this man's 

 bundle, much to the detriment of the outside hand- 

 kerchief, and of the garments within, Grumbo might 

 often be seen attached ; the tailor dancing about and 

 sacrificing his wares to save his legs, and roaring 

 for assistance. These onslaughts were never made 

 unless I was at home. When we walked abroad 

 he always picked quarrels with men on footpaths. 



