8o CHASING AND RACING 



for instance, is an example of the illogical and ignorant 

 argument of a certain noble lord. 



11 Oh, yes," he told a visitor from " the Shires ; " 

 " ours (the hounds were then my own particular 

 property) is a really splendid pack, but our master is no 

 huntsman." 



He received a severe snub ; for the said visitor, 

 who had forgotten more than his lordship ever knew 

 about hounds and the art of hunting, replied 



* That can hardly be, my lord ! A bad huntsman 

 cannot make a good pack ! " 



Now this stranger from " the Shires " was who 

 do you think ? None other than the redoubtable Tom 

 Firr, who, with Frank Gillard of the Belvoir, had judged 

 my puppy show during the previous summer. Am I 

 not justified in wearing this feather in my cap ? 

 Especially since it was supplemented, the following 

 year, when Lord Chesham and his relative, Lord 

 Valentia (then master, if I remember rightly, of 

 the South Oxfordshire), took a busman's holiday 

 with the O.B.H., together with the said Tom 

 Firr. His Lordship of Latimer, after a real smart 

 run, accompanied me and the hounds back to 

 kennel. 



" Cox," he said, " I am going to make you 

 blush." 



" How, Lord Chesham ? " I asked, adding, " I am 

 afraid I am past such a weakness fire ahead ! " 



" Some of your * dear friends ' have been sneering 



