G8 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



then with the old ones after it, in or out of kennel, 

 according to the weather, until the servants' dinner 

 hour ; out v/ith the young hounds again for a 

 couple of hours after dinner, and on their return 

 out with tlie old ones again, walking them about 

 until eight o'clock in the evening. 



In very hot weather, our old hounds were 

 Avalking or lying about with the deer under the 

 shade of the trees the greater part of the day, 

 attended by the kennel huntsman only, no whipper- 

 in being necessary to keep them in order. We 

 Y/ere 13'ing down one day with them around us, all 

 fast asleep, when we were roused by some very 

 shrill notes, and the braying of donkeys — two boys 

 mounted on them having passed up the drive near 

 to which we Y^ere lying, too near to be tolerated by 

 our faithful guardians, who resented their intrusion 

 by pulling the boys out of their saddles, greatly to 

 their horror and consternation. A rate from their 

 master — '' let them alone " — saved the urchins from 

 further fright — personal injury they had received 

 none, although their jackets had been ruffled a little 

 by this unceremonious dislodgment ; for our big burly 

 hounds, although naturally fierce and courageous, 

 possessed great generosity of disposition. 



During occasional absences from home, the care 

 of the pack devolved upon an old kennel huntsman, 

 Y'ho seemed as anxious about them as ourselves, 

 and so attentive to their personal appearance, that 

 during the holidays or summer months he carried 

 a hairbrush and small comb in his pocket — perhaps 

 the same used at his own toilette — Y^ith which lie 



