2o8 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



also remember that they have a character to maintain 

 amongst Hunt servants, who are not to be found at a 

 moment's notice. The efficient servants, be they 

 huntsmen or whippers-in, are seldom out of a billet 

 until they place themselves upon the retired list. If a 

 Master once earns the reputation of quarrelling with 

 his Hunt servants, he may as well resign his M.F.H. 

 honours and retire into private life, i 



An accusation has been brought against the pro- 

 fessional huntsmen that they overrate their influence 

 and ability in the hunting-field, as a result of which, to 

 a large extent, we have more than fifty gentlemen in 

 England hunting their own foxhounds with the aid of 

 a kennel huntsman. Naturally, huntsmen hate this 

 modern fashion. It is not to be expected that a man 

 who has carried the horn for over twenty seasons with 

 the approval of his Masters and the members of the 

 the Hunt will consent to be relegated to the inferior 

 position of kennel huntsman and first whipper-in, 

 even though the wages be the same. It is tantamount 

 to depriving a soldier of his commission and sending 

 him back to the ranks. Besides, few men on the 

 wrong side of fifty could perform the duties of a first 

 whipper-in, who must be a light-weight. During the 

 day his horse has to do twice as much work as the 

 horse of the huntsman, while in all probability the 

 huntsman will be the better mounted of the two. 

 However, this is not the place to discuss the duties of 

 a whipper-in. It is sufficient to state that no man, 

 with any self-respect, who has carried the horn would 

 undertake those duties. 



