t2o Reminiscences of a 



game at Brancepeth. It was unbearably hot, and as I was 

 riding a very handy Httle mare, stripped off my coat and 

 hung it on a tree. Mr. Parrington and Sharpe (the head 

 keeper) came to help us, if necessary, and I overheard Mr. 

 Parrington say to Sharpe, " There doesn't seem to be much 

 for us to do ! " After we 'd given them a quiet turn round 

 the park, holding them up well, we gave hounds their heads 

 a little; some wanted to have a "go" after the deer, or 

 hares, or anything on foot, and would have one ; others 

 hung back, being shy, but I managed to keep them pretty 

 well in my hands, until I got a rare spill through my little 

 mare putting a foot into a rabbit hole, and sending me fly- 

 ing several yards, as I was galloping back at full speed with 

 some hounds which I had just managed to stop. Well, we 

 commenced cub-hunting fairly early, and, considering all the 

 conditions, had a very good season amongst the cubs ; for 

 we were nicely mounted and soon got to know the country. 

 Mr. Harvey used to stay at the Hardwick Arms over-night, 

 and was always remarkably keen and punctual ; he was a 

 thorough hunting man, rather than an all-round sportsman, 

 for I verily believe that he hated the sight of a game-keeper 

 or a gun, unless there were plenty of foxes astir, when he 

 would tip " Mr. Velveteens " freely. Many a time I have 

 heard him remark, when he saw a keeper at the meet with 

 a gun in his hand, " it doesn't look very favourable for 

 foxes ! " " John," he always called me John, " it looks bad, 

 I don't Hke the gun, it wouldn't matter so much if he hadn't 

 the gun with him ! " Mr. Harvey was a wonderful man in 

 many ways, and must have had a constitution made of some 

 stuff far harder than iron. He loved to talk of his early 

 experiences in the country, in the time of the celebrated Mr. 

 Ralph Lambton, and was never tired of relating the history 



