252 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



few minutes, he made liis appearance. Jim apologised for liis 

 apparent rudeness in applying at the grand entrance for admis- 

 sion, and disturbing him at such an hour. "But," he said, 

 " you^ told me, sir, whenever I detected any of your keepers 

 catching foxes, I was to give you immediate information of it, 

 and I knew as the keepers had gone round to the back of the 

 house, there would be little chance of my gaining an admittance 

 in that quarter. I hope I have not offended you, sir?" " By no 

 means, Jim ; your master has often expressed to me the high 

 opinion he has of your conduct generally, and I fully appreciate 

 an honest and trustworthy servant." 



Jim's story was soon told. The master desired him to go into 

 the housekeeper's room for refreshment, whilst he wrote me a 

 few lines ; but this offer of hospitality was politely declined, as 

 Jim suspected his beer might be hocussed, at the suggestion of 

 the keeper and tall footman. The few lines addressed to myself 

 were to the point, leaving the delinquent keepers at my disposal. 

 Other devices and tricks of these gentlemen in velveteen I shall 

 touch on in my next. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



Tricks of keepers — A master of fox-hoTUids ought to possess manifold know- 

 ledge, as his business is most Tarious in its demands — Farmers generally 

 favourable to fox-hvmting — Jim and the farmer's daughter — Foxes which 

 lie idle easily disposed of — The weather constantly blamed for bad sport, 

 wdthout reason — Foxes should have a fair start — The wild system of 

 the present day condemned — Gentlemen huntsmen — "Blood will tell" 

 — Mr. Delme Eadclifle — Mr. Osbaldestone — Assheton Smith — Not in- 

 dispensable that a gentleman should always feed his own hoimds — 

 Lord Darlington and Mr. MeyneU — Feeding hounds after hunting — 

 Quotation from the author of the " Noble Science" — Fox-hunting not 

 intended to be the sole business of life — Whippers-in who have lived 

 under gentlemen huntsmen — Hills and the two Treadwells. 



In countries where keepers are paid so much for each litter of 

 cubs found in their district, they will only tithe them a little 

 before they are found by the hounds, to receive their fee, but 

 when that is received, the work of destruction commences with 

 those left, and the old vixen is often the only one spared. I 

 have found a good litter of foxes in such places on the first day 

 of hunting, but not a young fox afterwards. My plan was, when 

 at the mercy of a keeper, to allow him so much for every fox 

 found, but nothing lor the litter. Some were such determined 



