254 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



Another great hound was Dasher, who stood out 

 so prominently at the head of the 1900 entry, and 

 Belvoir's hopes were centred in him to succeed in 

 office his illustrious sire Dexter. But, alas ! too 

 early in his career he fell a victim from the kick of 

 a horse ; though fortunately not before there were 

 some of his get in the kennel, including Worcester 

 (1904) who was in the list of stallion hounds. 



A massive low-set son by Stormer (1899) ^^ Smoker 

 (1907), from Spiteful (1905), and Capell pointed him 

 out as having " the best knees in the kennel." But he 

 is not a hound to show himself, generally appearing 

 to be deeply absorbed in thought when seen on the 

 flags. 



For many years the Belvoir had a noted fox- 

 terrier, named Bluecoat, running with the pack; 

 a dog with a wonderful character for work, who 

 never tired in the longest day's hunting. Bluecoat 

 was about as game as they make them, and between 

 times the sweetest-tempered dog imaginable. Bred 

 by Mr F. T. Poyser when master of the County 

 Galway Blazers between 1899 and 1902, he was 

 presented as a puppy to Nimrod, the eldest son of 

 Ben Capell, huntsman to the Belvoir. For many 

 years Bluecoat was the only sort of dog allowed 

 inside the huntsman's house ; and he grew up with 

 the family, developing wonderful intelligence and 

 hunting instincts. A nearly all white dog with a 

 few blue ticks in a strong working coat, he was a 

 good stamp of hunt-terrier, rather short in the neck, 

 but good over the back, and through the loin. 

 Known all over the Leicestershire and Lincolnshire 

 district where the Belvoir hunt, he soon estab- 

 lished a reputation for work and gameness, keeping 

 up all day with the pack. 



In his latter years Bluecoat became the property 



