EARLY HUNTING EXPERIENCES. 9 



George IV., at that time kept a pack of foxhounds 

 in Dorset, and hunted from Critchell, which place 

 he had taken from Mr Sturt. Billy Butler's 

 acquaintance with the Prince began in the field. 

 The Prince, after a long and fruitless draw with 

 his hounds, was told that the rector of Framp- 

 ton could tell him where to find a fox if any one 

 could, as he knew the home of every fox in the 

 country. Inquiring if the gentleman was out, and 

 hearing that he was, the Prince sent a messenger 

 asking Mr Butler to come and speak to him. This 

 of course Mr Butler did, and he told the Prince 

 that a fox was generally to be found in a certain 

 gorse at a little distance. Much pleased at the 

 news, the Prince trotted off. Unfortunately 

 for his informant, the covert was drawn blank. 

 Mr Butler, however, was not one to sit quietly 

 under defeat, so, getting off his horse, he went up 

 to the huntsman and said — 



" Which do you consider your best hound to face 

 a thick place ? I am sure the fox is at home, but 

 the gorse is so dense the hounds have overdrawn 

 im. 



" Well, sir," was the reply, as the huntsman 

 pointed with his whip to an old hound, " Trojan 

 there is as good as any." 



To the astonishment of every one present, Mr 

 Butler went up to the hound indicated, and after 

 stroking him down and making friends with him, 

 picked him up in his arms and disappeared with 

 him into the covert. Talking to the hound as he 



