142 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



theatres, as it only needed a stumble with his hoop to make 

 the lions and leopards rise from their quietude and tear 

 him to pieces, so it only required a little angry noise from Jack 

 to breed a further quarrel. Jack at last began to rate the 

 rioters in cover from among the steady lot around him, and even 

 to crack his whip, by the swing of the lash of which one or two 

 hounds at his heels got hit, and they cried out. At this 

 moment, Jack's master lost his temper, and sticking the spurs 

 into his horse he bolted to aid the whippers-in. He should, 

 with that laudable intent, have left the pack quietly instead of 

 bolting off ; the consequence of this example was, that some of 

 the more impatient spirits whom I had seen cock their ears, 

 bolted off with him and joined the riot. To crown the whole 

 affair, Jack Stephens bolted off too with all the hounds with him, 

 and got into the plantation, cutting at every hound he could 

 see. Such a riot I never saw in my life ! Having long before 

 observed considerable jealousy towards me, and a wish among 

 some of his field to prevent Mr. Wilkins from taking my advice, 

 I made it a rule not to interfere ; but on this occasion, seeing 

 that the poor hounds who were not hunting hare had no place 

 to go to, and that if they neared their huntsman they were cut 

 over, I simply rode near the cover and stood still. In a moment 

 a lot of hounds, not having any huntsman to go to, came out 

 and sat round my horse's legs, where I was most happy that 

 they should sit till the insane men who were wronging them 

 were tired, and had come to their right understanding. My 

 anger may be more easily guessed than described, when Mr. 

 Wilkins and a whipper-in came flying round the corner ; and 

 the word was, " Damn 'em, pitch into 'em all ! " I believe they 

 were nettled still with a petty jealousy, that the hounds had 

 sought me out for safety. I told them they were all mad 

 together, and I wished to go away, not to see it ; but had I gone 

 I should have had to put up half the pack at my lodgings, 

 foi every bush had a hound in it peeping out to see whom they 

 could with safety follow. After what I have narrated, I think 

 I am justified in saying that the experience I had of him did 



