First Whipper-in. 141 



and understand what a huntsman's duties are, say that few 

 better huntsmen exist. Patient, quiet, painstaking as he is, 

 and always with his hounds. Bevan, the first whip, is noted 

 for his quick eye ; no fox ever escapes his view, and no 

 matter what sort of a country it may be, by some means 

 or other, Bevan is always there ; no place is too big, no 

 fence is too ugly for Jack Bevan to negotiate." That's 

 rather thick butter, but I suppose it 's meant for me. My 

 real name is Bevans, but they always call me Jack Bevan 

 in the South Durham country. 



The same writer concludes by referring to our grand old 

 master in the following terms. — " Our master, John Harvey, 

 who was going in the time of Ralph Lambton, though up- 

 wards of seventy-two years, yet rides as straight and enjoys 

 the sport as keenly as any fox-hunter living. He is a great 

 favourite with all the farmers, always punctual to a minute, 

 and not merely liked, but adored by his ' field.' " No truer 

 words, say I, were ever written, and no man ever had a 

 better master ! 



Once, in the early part of the regular hunting season of 

 1877,* after a meet at Coxhoe Hall, when near Fishburn, 

 Mr. Harvey and three or four more came to a gateway, 

 filled up with some loose thorns and a pole across, where 

 some one had got off to pull it out. Turning round, and 

 seeing me coming, Mr. Harvey says, " Look out, John's 

 coming, he'll send it all flying and make a good road for 

 us"; but the old mare (Bicester, I think) had her eye on 

 the pole, and being a good timber jumper cleared the lot, 

 and left things exactly as they were. They then pulled the 

 place down and soon Mr. Harvey came up and said, in his 

 usual quiet way, " John, I '11 have to get you a fresh mare." 



• This would be November 7th, 1877. Bicester was out that day. 



