THE KILKENNY HOUNDS. 253 



and Denis Dwyer second at this time. It was no 

 wonder that the pack soon became perfect ; no man 

 understood the breeding and condition of hounds 

 better than Comet." 



*' Who succeeded Sir John as master?" 

 *'His son 'Johnnie,' as his friends called him. 

 Soon after he got them, poor Robert Comet died of 

 aneurism of the heart ; and the first whip, Mick 

 Butler, was promoted to the vacancy, and Stephen 

 Goodall was appointed whip. You've heard of him, 

 I dare say." 



"Heard of him ! you forget you're talking to a 

 Kildare man ; of course I have ; who has not ? He 

 was a splendid horseman, and had a grand voice. 

 Who succeeded Butler ?" 



" After a couple of years Sir John hunted the 

 hounds himself, with Butler and Goodall as whippers- 

 in." 



*' He showed good sport, I believe?" 

 "Very; he was a keen foxhunter, a fine horse- 

 man, and a most popular man with all classes — and so 

 was every member of his family." 



** The late Baronet was fond of steeplechasing too, 

 I understand ?" 



** He was ; he had some fair horses ; and a mare 

 of his. Fox, was second for the Corinthian Cup in 

 Punchestown in 1857; she was ridden by Captain 

 Town ley, and was beaien by Colonel Forster's Ring- 

 leader by a neck." 



" I heard that the late Sir John built kennels at 

 Kilfane." 



" Oh, so he did. I should tell you that the present 

 Baronet, Sir Richard, is very popular with all classes, 



17 



