142 THE HUNTING FIELD 



risk his neck, when he can afford to keep a man for 

 the purpose. Paddy should be an adept at opening 

 gates, throwing down walls, breaking rails, and great 

 generally in the art of destruction. 



If the Master should be unlucky enough to kill his 

 horse, he would then take the " Pad Groom's ; " in 

 which case, as the latter would most likely have to 

 " pad the hoof home," it is not impossible that some 

 such catastrophe may have led to the creation of the 

 title; or, it may be that the "pad," on the death of 

 the fox, is consigned to the guardianship of this hero 

 by ambitious claimants. 



