HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 141 



dashing appearance at the meet who proves the best 

 performer across country. When the fox has gone 

 away, and the hounds are streaming out of the 

 covert to get on his trail, the most knowing ones 

 and the best goers are soon to be distinguished from 

 those who merely attend the meet to be admired. 

 Concerning a man who really meant business, though 

 he cared little for appearances while going to or 

 from the meet, ' Mmrod ' writes : 



e Some years ago I was in the habit of occasion- 

 ally meeting in the field with one of the best men 

 over a country that England ever produced, by the 

 humble title of "Mr. Morgan, hop-merchant, of 

 London." On one occasion, and the first, I stumbled 

 upon him in the most extraordinary manner, as the 

 following tale will unfold. It chanced that I was at 

 the turning out of a stag on the Ludlow racecourse 

 one fine day in October, in honour of the burgesses' 

 feast. A person appeared in the throng on such a 

 wretchedly bad hack, and of so mean an appearance 

 withal, that the person who collected the half-crowns 

 declined handing him the glove. All that denoted the 

 huntsman was a black velvet hunting-cap, his person 

 being enveloped in a threadbare brown surtout, but- 

 toned up to the throat. On the hounds being laid 

 on the scent, however, the scene changed, and much 

 after the fashion of a pantomime. On a signal being 

 given, a countryman rode up to Mr. Morgan with 

 his hunter ; the threadbare coat was thrown upon 



