254: HOKSES AND HOUNDS. 



to figlit on, and with perfect success, for more than a quarter of 

 a century, fully alive to the tricks of keepers and their masters 

 as well. I contrived to meet them one way or another, and the 

 sport we had was so good, that many mdpecides w^ere fain to 

 yield to that bugbear public opinion, and preserve foxes in 

 reality. A few genuine sportsmen we had ; but, although their 

 will was good, their number was very small. The farmers, 

 however, as a body, throughout the wdiole country, were trumps 

 — they were, generally, lovers of the sport, good riders, and 

 stanch friends to the hounds. Without them I never w^ould 

 have attempted nor could I have held my ground. To many a 

 secret, touching fox-killers, I gained access through their 

 means, and a mutual good understanding always existed 

 between us. 



I called upon as many as I could during vacation time, 

 although our country w^as a wide one, and a hearty welcome 

 always awaited me ; Jim, also, was a great favourite with them, 

 and could do what I never could, drink a few glasses of strong 

 beer, without being much the worse for them. Many of our 

 farmers were men of good property, and some possessed fox 

 coverts, in which a litter of foxes was generally bred — there was 

 no^ fear of their being killed by keepers. To the extreme 

 points I generally despatched Jim, but this would not always 

 answer as well. The daughter of a farmer, who had a small 

 covert close adjoining the farm-yard, whose tenants (the poultry) 

 belonged to herself, sent me word one day that, unless I paid 

 her a visit in lyroiwia persona^ she would have all the foxes 

 killed. This being only twenty-five miles from the kennel, was 

 rather a long ride to make a morning call, which I told Jim to 

 say the next time he went there. " It wont do, sir," said Jim, 

 '• I have told her that same story once or twdce before, and it 

 wont do any longer. Go you must now, sir, or that litter of 

 cubs will go, that's clear, as the young lady is rather a deter- 

 mined sort of character," " Very well, Jim, if I must go, I 

 may as well go at once, so call me at five o'clock to-morrow 

 morning." 



I have before remarked, that a master of fox-hounds who 

 does his duty, has no sinecure in any country. In some he is a 

 slave to the public, and obliged to submit to all kinds of incon- 

 veniences to keep things together. He works like a horse, and 

 fares like an ass, which by the way, I undoubtedly think he is, 

 all things considered. Although there is a great deal of what 

 is called luck in fox-hunting, yet a master who is thoroughly 

 acquainted with his business, and has a good pack of hounds, 

 may fairly calculate upon showing sport one season with an- 



