278 KINGSCLERE 



to articulate a reply. The breath on the poor man's 

 beard had frozen so hard he was afflicted with 

 momentary lockjaw. 



1 We have plenty of hares ; Mr. Booth, the 

 zealous and genial secretary of the Sydmonton 

 Coursing Meeting, who resides at Sydmonton Farm, 

 takes care of that. Not that he is not as watchful 

 of the interests of the Vine and the Craven Hunts as 

 he is careful to provide game for the coursers, being 

 just as keen a preserver of Reynard as he is of puss. 

 Indeed, he is a thoroughly good sportsman all round. 

 Mr. Pember is master of the Vine, and Mr. Dunn 

 of the Craven. The kennels of the Vine are at 

 Overton, and those of the Craven at Vintbury. It 

 is not at all a good hunting country. There is too 

 much flint about, the woods are of considerable 

 dimensions and closely packed together, and under 

 ordinary conditions the scent does not lie. Never- 

 theless, it cannot be said that the Craven are not 

 ardent in the pursuit of their quarry — whatever 

 that may chance to be. I will not go the length of 

 saying that in the absence of a fox they will hunt 

 anything, but I remember on one occasion, when I 

 had walked to Sydmonton in the afternoon and was 

 returning home, I missed my Irish terrier, who had 

 accompanied me. I guessed, however, that he was 

 busy as usual with the rabbits in the Sydmonton 

 bushes, and, since I was sure from past experience 

 that he would come home to tea, I gave him no 

 further thought. The Vine were out that day, and 

 the hounds, drawing the bushes I have mentioned, 



