THE RUNNER 171 



choice anecdote, for he is a born entertainer, this 

 runner of ours. Then another pint of ale is set 

 before him, and then another — he does not pay for 

 them, mind — until at last his speech begins to come 

 thick, and he turns into an outhouse to pass the 

 night as best he may. 



Yes, I am afraid our runner is a thorough 

 scamp, but he has redeeming qualities. He speaks 

 the truth ; he is discreet in many things, telling no 

 man's secrets — no secrets of the hunt at any rate ; 

 he is scrupulously honest, and he is a sportsman. 

 Let us then not cast a stone at him, but give him 

 sixpence now and again, even if he be impudent 

 when in his cups. 



But there is a runner of another type, a type 

 which is scarce, I admit, but which nevertheless 

 does exist in many countries, and of which I have 

 known one or two specimens myself. Our runner 

 is of a higher social scale than the man whom I 

 have already described. Not only is he not above 

 earning his living, but, as a rule, he is an indus- 

 trious and capable man. He generally belongs to 

 the small farmer or village tradesman class ; he 

 boasts, when his tongue is loosened, for he is not 

 given to be communicative as a rule, that his 



" fore elders " had been connected with the 



Hunt for generations, and he looks upon himself 

 as part and parcel of the hunt establishment. 

 There is nothing of the scapegrace about him ; 

 indeed, I have known one of the class a teetotaler ; 

 but I should say that this is a rare occurrence. He 

 never begs or even hints at such a thing as a 

 present, save and except that he will ask for a cast- 

 off scarlet coat, which is kept with scrupulous 

 neatness. His breeches, generally of corduroy, are 



