26 CHASING AND RACING 



There were, if I remember rightly, some fifteen 

 starters for the race, and just as I had weighed out, 

 Jack Westrup, runner to my hounds, came up and 

 ** bit my ear " as the saying goes. 



*' Sir," he whispered, ** Fve just overheard Mr. 



and Mr. — — (naming two prominent riders) plotting 

 to put you over the rails ; so Fve hurried over to give 

 you a word of warning." 



This was cheery news indeed. I could rely on 

 Jack. Originally he had been butler to the great 

 and popular ** Dizzy " at Hughenden. He had 

 attached himself to me when I had instituted the Mis- 

 senden Harriers and taken over the Hambleden Vale 

 pack. What he did not know about the wiles and 

 habits of the timid hare was not worth knowing and 

 he could always spot the quarry in her form, and whistle 

 us for the find. Later on, when I substituted the 

 canary of the O.B.E. for the green of the " Jelly dogs," 

 Jack proved of inestimable service as ** runner." 



And now how to outwit the scoundrels who 

 deliberately intended to risk murder or mutilation in 

 pursuit of their petty profits ? 



I am not sure about the starter ; but I think it 

 was Harry Custance. It was a circular course, one 

 and a half times round for the mile (the distance 

 prescribed). I had drawn the inside, and perceived 

 that the plotters were on my whip hand. As soon 

 as we had lined up, I touched Catona with the spur. 

 This unaccustomed administration caused her to 



