THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 65 



and that, in fact, he will carry all the best part of his 

 field with him. 



We have in recollection two cases of very young 

 masters, both of whom began badly, but by degrees 

 overcame their difficulties. In one instance the master 

 was a mere boy, who came forward when no other 

 master was forthcoming. He had, for one of his age, 

 considerable knowledge of hunting, but he was shy and 

 nervous, and his field quickly got out of hand. By 

 Christmas-time many of the hard riders were doing 

 exactly what they liked, and matters had become so bad 

 that some of the older members of the hunt were visit- 

 ing the adjoining country for their sport. Then there 

 came a day when hounds ran so fast that for twenty 

 minutes they were beating every one. At length they 

 checked in a field of turnips, when one of the worst 

 offenders calmly galloped round them cracking his whip 

 to turn them back to the fence. The young master saw 

 it, and suddenly coming out of his shell rated the would- 

 be huntsman in such forcible language that he slunk 

 away, and was not seen again that day. So hard had 

 hounds been running that very few of the field were 

 within hearing, but the story was soon spread about, 

 and from that day no more liberties were taken. 



In the other case the master was also a young man, 

 but had had the experience of several seasons and also 

 had considerable knowledge of foxes, and of woodcraft 

 generally; he was, in fact (so most people thought), just 

 the man for the place. But he began by ladling out 

 indiscriminate and unmerited abuse to all and sundry, 

 with a view to asserting his authority. From day to 

 day he became more abusive, and gave more offence, 

 and he had not been long in office before his field 

 dwindled from something a little short of a hundred to 

 5 



