THE MASTER'S EXPENSES 99 



It is a question whether there is much difference in 

 the price of horses now or formerly. The sudden 

 demands of a war such as the country has lately gone 

 through will of course temporarily affect prices, but 

 such influences are only transient. Our grandfathers 

 were obliged to put their hands pretty deep in their 

 pockets if they looked for anything out of the common ; 

 but on the whole it is probable that the cost of mount- 

 ing oneself is considerably more nowadays. 



Speaking more particularly of the Shires, a Master 

 requires to be exceptionally mounted, for he will have 

 to hold his own with a thrusting crowd, so as to be able 

 to turn round and look his field in the face whenever 

 he wishes them to hold hard and give the hounds room. 

 I never yet saw the field that would stop in obedience to 

 a Master shouting from behind, and, when one comes 

 to think of it, this is only human nature. The worst 

 motives are attributed to the poor Master anxious only 

 to show the best sport. " Nasty jealous beggar ! " is an 

 average comment, " only wants us to take a pull so that 

 he may get up to us." Such is the notice commonly 

 taken of a ruler who is behind. 



Once, however, let the Master get his head in front 

 and turn round to give his orders, and these are at once 

 respected. To do this whenever occasion demands, he 

 will need to have three or four hundred guineas' worth 

 of horseflesh at his disposal. The exact number of 

 horses required by him must, as in the case also of 

 the huntsman, necessarily depend in great measure on 

 the nature of the country over which he presides. 

 From six to ten horses should be ample for his own 



