8 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



away from the canine species, which is my principal theme; 

 and therefore to return to Grumbo. It is a favourite maxim 

 of mine, that nothing takes its character from its preceptor so 

 much as a hound or a dog does from his huntsman : of this 

 Grumbo formed no bad illustration. Not only was he my 

 constant guard and companion, but when my godfather, the 

 late Lord Grantley, gave me my first gun, made by Ronolds, 

 he became my pointer, spaniel, and retriever. 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 questionable compliment 

 of deeming that his master liked a row, for he never lost the 

 chance of provoking 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 handkerchief, 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, or oxen, or cows, always, if he 



