86 THE WILLEY XENNELS. 



distance lie liad to ride by starliglit were liis hours 

 of rest broken in upon, and exclusive of tbe time 

 that operation migbt consume another serious one 

 was to be provided for — this was the filling bis bair 

 witb powder and pomatum until it could bold no 

 more, and forming it into a well-formed knot, or 

 club, as it was called, by bis valet, wbicb cost com- 

 monly a good hour's work. The protecting mud 

 boots, the cantering hack, the second horse in the 

 field, were luxuries unknown to him. His well- 

 soiled buckskins, and brown-topped boots, would 

 have cut an indifierent figure in the presence of a 

 modern connoisseur by a Leicestershire cover side.'' 

 '^ Notwithstanding all this, however," he adds, "we 

 are inclined strongly to suspect that, out of a given 

 number of gentlemen taking the field with hounds, 

 the proportion of really scientific sportsmen may 

 have been in favour of the olden times." 



The Willey Kennels were within easy reach of 

 the Hall, between Willey and Shirlot, where the 

 pleasant stream before alluded to goes murmuring 

 on its way through the Smithies to the Severn. 

 But in order to save his dogs unnecessary exertion 

 there were others on the opposite, or Wrekin, side 

 of the river — 



