30 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



have been a bold first-flight man who dared to interfere 

 with him in the discharge of his duties. Indeed, I 

 only know of one case in which he was interfered with. 

 This happened on December 22, 1884, when the Quorn 

 and Belvoir packs clashed in Widmerpool Plantation 

 in the Quorn country, the Belvoir having hunted their 

 fox from Harby Covert. 



"Tally-ho! There goes my fox!" Tom Firr 

 shouted. 



"Now, Tom, behave yourself!" responded Frank 

 Gillard, the Huntsman of the Belvoir ; " I shall be 

 very angry with you directly, Tom, if you don't let my 

 fox alone." 



There was no further argument, for the two packs 

 opened on the line and killed him, after hunting to- 

 gether for one hour and five minutes in Lord Wilton's 

 plantation, close to Saxelby Spinney, the Belvoir having 

 run consecutively for two hours and twenty-four 

 minutes. The brush of this stout fox was presented 

 to the Duke of Rutland and the mask was secured by 

 Tom Firr. 



Interference in the field with the Master, the Hunts- 

 man, and the Hunt servants has probably caused more 

 loss of sport than any other breach of hunting 

 etiquette. Undoubtedly there are occasions when 

 individual members of the Hunt can render impor- 

 tant assistance to the Huntsman, but it may be laid 

 down as a broad rule that it is wise to do nothing. 

 The individual member, especially if his knowledge of 

 hunting is limited, is more apt to have made a mistake 

 than to have rendered valuable assistance, in which case 



