64 HOUND AND HORN 



sir," and gesticulating as if inviting me to a trial 

 of speed. When the fox was killed behind us, and 

 a pad was presented to this fearless old fellow, he 

 said, "A wadna wonder if ma beast grows inta a 

 hunter yet ; an' what a graund hunt we've hed ; 

 an' a nice bit loup that neabody taen bit me an' 

 the Maister.*' 



This was my first acquaintance with this grand 

 old sportsman. 



On the way home we passed by the side of the 

 road a spring cart with a wheel in the ditch, and 

 harness thrown down or scattered about anyhow. 



^' Has there been an accident ? " said some one. 



" Oh no," was the explanation, '^ this is old Andrew. 

 He was driving away to mend the roofs at Nether- 

 houses when he got sight of hounds, and thereupon 

 converted his carriage horse into a hunter." 



It was after about ten days' experience of these 

 first days that Billy said to me : " I sa}^, Master, if 

 anything was to happen to you (or to me) there'ud 

 be no lack of material for a huntsman. The way 

 some of these boys get to hounds and know what 

 they are doing is astonishing — a bit too noisy though, 

 some of them." 



*^ Perhaps, Bill, but it's only their keenness, and 

 they know not to do it when hounds are on their 

 noses and casting round to recover a line." 



