28 



THE TKINITY FOOT BEAGLES 



nK 



A Master. 



can either find his own way or pay for a place in the brake which 



starts from the Pitt. He can make friends with his fellow- 

 subscribers, or can keep to himself; he may get 

 caught up into the company of the zealous, who 

 include Master and Whips, or he may form one of 

 an independent coterie of more dilettante sports- 

 men. If keen and capable he may become a 

 Whip or, with sufficient means, even Master, or 

 he may remain a private beagler all his days. 

 The pack has consisted since 1888 of about 

 twenty -two couple of working hounds divided 

 not into a " dog " and " bitch," but into a " fast " 

 and a " slow " pack ; with kennels in a by-lane off 



the Histon Eoad which have been in occupation since 1880 : in 



charge of Bob (Mr. Eobert Floate), who has been 



kennelman since 1883. The hounds are thoroughly 



well hunted and show excellent sport ; good dis- 

 cipline is kept in the field: all who go through 



gates are careful to shut them, and the hunt is on 



the best of terms with the farmers. There is a 



certain amount of etiquette as to dress and so on, 



but not now so strict as it was twenty years ago. 



Master and Whips turn out in a smart and 



workman-like uniform, the usual velvet hunting- 

 cap and green velveteen coat, with hunting-stock, 



white breeches, and black stockings and shoes. 



An ex-Master wears his old coat with a tweed cap 



if he come back from his estate, or regiment, or 



business as a more or less critical onlooker. 



Pleasant dinners and other social amenities are 



by the way. The pack is well represented at 



Peterborough and other hound shows, and more 



puppies are bred than can be drafted into the pack. 

 As to cost. The private subscriber pays thirty 



shillings per term, and a further twenty-five if 



be takes a place in the brake ; so that with petty 



An Ex-Mastejj. 



