StagJiotinds 69 



Q.C., with whom I was, for a time, in 

 chambers at King's Bench Walk, died, and 

 two years later saw the death of another 

 revered old follower of the hunt, the im- 

 mortal "Parson" Jack Eussell. Old Bab- 

 bage, too, was gone, and gaps such as these 

 are hard to fill. As after events proved, no 

 better substitute for Mr. Bisset could have 

 been found than Lord Ebrington, who con- 

 tinued to show the same good sport which 

 was always associated with his predecessor. 



And now let us imagine ourselves, on a 

 briofht mornino^ in late Ausjust, ios^scing^ alons: 

 in the warm and genial sunshine to meet 

 the hounds at Hawkcombe Head, and here 

 the North Devonian "rank and fashion," to 

 say nothing of the North Devonian " rank 

 and file," are assembled in force. AVithout 

 delay a move is made for Larkbarrow, where 

 by the lonely shepherd's cottage, right out 

 upon the moor, the pack is kennelled. In 

 due course the huntsman makes his selection 

 of those hounds he requires for "tufters," 

 some five couple in all, and in company with 



