134 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



What a game old boy he was, to be 

 sure ! 



Will Dale, our huntsman, who is now 

 with the Badminton, was absolutely the 

 finest man I ever saw cross a country, 

 and the best huntsman into the bargain. 

 It was a sight to be remembered to see 

 the quick, smart way in which he would 

 come out of Wickenby Wood with twenty 

 couple, almost atop of his fox. This 

 said Wickenby Wood was a rare fox- 

 stronghold, and in Lord Henry's time 

 was never once drawn blank in ten 

 seasons. There's Stainton Wood, too, 

 not far off, a marvellous home for foxes. 

 I remember one New Year's Eve we ran 

 into it late in the afternoon, and counted 

 thirteen foxes on foot. 



Dale said, if there was only a moon, 

 he'd have hunted the old year out and 

 the new year in. Next morning (New 



