THE WAR AND THE FINAL TRIUMPH. 87 



for I felt that all who were out were out to see the sport, and 

 not to disport before then- humbler brethren. 



** Cutting the story short, we had runs which would do credit 

 to any tive couple of old hounds, but somewhat naturally we could 

 not kill, and the result was that the field dwindled, until only the 

 keenest were left. 



*' Near the close of the season I was made third whip. My 

 summer was spent in selfishly hoping the other whips would leave 

 before next season, which they most kindly did do, and I entered 

 the winter (1920) as Master. 



'' Thanks to the kindness of certain benefactors and by dint 

 of judicious buying, we now had 13 couples of hounds, and my 

 hopes rose accordingly. 



** I soon found in Mr. R. S. de Havilland, the Treasurer, 

 the kindest and most sympathetic supporter. He gave me the 

 impression that, whatever might go wrong and whatever every 

 one else thought, he would always be on my side and ready to 

 back the beagles against any one. From him I soon mastered 

 what I might call the ' etiquette ' of the hunt, and all the small 

 delicacies which surrounded it. 



'' The practical side came from another quarter, and in the 

 shape of none other than the renowned kennelman. Champion. 

 He is probably one of the most delightful and certainly the 

 most entertaining character I came across. Many a day I used 

 to go up to kennels to hsten to him tell stories. The seriousness 

 which accompanied the most obvious remarks was a continual 

 source of delight. A riddle of his about the Mayor of Cork I 

 shall never forget, but unfortunately it was quite unrepeatable. 



'* No one could pass old Champion without an allusion to his 

 family. At present they number four, and include himself, his 

 wife, a son and a small daughter. No one could be more obliging 

 and kind-hearted than Mrs. Champion, always ready to offer you 

 a seat by a warm fire, and in fact to do those hundred and one 

 things that 'always count.' As to George, I remember him 

 before the War stopped us, when, though far younger than any 

 of us, he used to keep going all day and never give in ; after the 

 War he seemed almost grown up and became like an auxiliary 

 whip to me, his help at times being quite indispensable. He 

 could run and keep up better than our best, and none of us 

 were keener sportsmen. Lastly, though only a T.Y.O. filly, the 

 youngest member already knows all the hounds by name, and 

 they certainly all know her, willingly offering their backs for a 

 ride. 



" Well, to leave this wonderful family I go back to where we 



