HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



a battered hat, and was without shoes or stockings 

 or necktie, to give freedom of motion. He de- 

 served his sobriquet, which translated means 

 " muddled," from the fact that he was never stu- 

 pidly drunk or actually sober. He knew the country 

 so well, and was so speedy of foot that he managed 

 to be up at every check and always in at the death. 



The fox broke in the midst of a well maintained 

 silence, and the hounds burst from the covert with 

 a crash of music which electrified both men and 

 horses. Amongst the local gentlemen was Robin 

 Aylmer, and having heard so much about himself 

 and his steed I determined to attach myself to him 

 as a safe guide in an unknown country, and also 

 with the full intention of trying to equal if not 

 to rival him if I could. The pack was allowed to 

 settle to their game before a man stirred, and then, 

 the master and whips taking the lead, we followed. 



We had a fine run with occasional slow hunting, 

 which was not only agreeable both to men and 

 horses as it enabled them to recover their wind, 

 but afforded an opportunity of appreciating the 

 merits of the hounds, which can never be fairly esti- 

 mated when they are sailing away in full cry on a 

 burning scent. Aylmer rode as close to the pack as 

 propriety permitted, and he no sooner remarked 

 that I continued to follow in his wake and evinced 

 a determination to stick to his skirts, than he tried 

 to bring me to grief by leading me into difficulties. 

 He took the largest fences when he might quite as 

 well have kept his ground by taking smaller ones, 

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