32 THE ETON COLLEGE HUNT, 



Head Master is dul}^ recorded in the Beagling Book. The 

 account of the run ends with the remark : '' May the E.C.H. 

 enjoy many such days and many such a finish." 



Mr. G. H. Longman writes : 



'' My mastership of the Eton Beagles extended over the two 

 seasons 1870 and 1871, for in those days there was no hunting 

 done at Eton before Christmas. The kennels were at the end 

 of the Playing Fields, close to Black Pots. The rule was either 

 to subscribe a sovereign or bring back a couple of beagles, and 

 the pack consisted entirely of hounds so procured. Naturally 

 the result was a rather unlevel lot, but they did their work 

 quite well, and I recollect that some hounds brought by one of 

 the Anstruther-Thompsons were about the best we had. 



'* Two hounds particularly remain in my memory, namely 

 ' Rustic ' and ' Rival.' I have in my possession now a coloured 

 photograph of the pack, taken by Messrs. Hills & Saunders, 

 which was presented to me on the completion of my second 

 season of mastership. The occasion was celebrated by a 

 breakfast at the White Hart Plotel in Windsor, and, though the 

 authorities must, I think, have been aware of the fact, they 

 neither took the slightest step to prevent nor resent it. 



'* F. A. Curry and L. G. Wickham whipped in to me in 

 1870: G. H. Armitstead and Hon. H. C. Legge in 1871. 



" Nobody was allowed off Absence at that time, nor were 

 we allowed to attend that function ' changed.' I used to go, 

 therefore, with a great coat and pair of trousers over my 

 beagling kit. Three Lower Boys were in readiness at my 

 tutor's door, which was just opposite Schoolyard, one to take off 

 the coat, and the other two to haul away each at a leg of the 

 trousers, so that I was able to start off in a twink immediately 

 after I had answered my name. 



** Our time being extremely limited we used to advertise a 

 meet at say Langley station for ten minutes after two o'clock. 

 Absence being at two. The kennelman brought the hounds to 

 the meet coupled, and took them home in the same manner. 

 We used always to draw at the double, and if possible coupled 

 up the hounds in time to get back before lock-up, the run home 

 testing our endurance to the uttermost. 



'* This description of our methods will show how strenuous 

 the work was, but, though we did our best to get back 

 in time for lock-up, I remember very well one occasion 

 when a hare rose in view just as we were about to couple up the 

 hounds. It was out West Drayton way. Off went the hounds 

 in full cry, and we were unable to stop them for something under 



