EARLY HUNTING EXPERIENCES. 11 



Prince was delighted at the idea, so a few days 

 afterwards a special fixture was made in order 

 to carry it out. Mr Butler started off with the 

 hounds coupled and fastened to the thong of 

 his hunting-whip, and on reaching the hut he 

 tied up his horse, and hid himself and the 

 hounds inside. After waiting anxiously for some 

 time, he heard the chase drawing near, and 

 peeping out espied "Master Reynard" approach- 

 ing. Waiting till the fox came up, he flung 

 open the door, and with a cheer capped on the 

 two couple of hounds in full view. Vaulting 

 into the saddle, " Billy " rode his hardest in 

 their wake, and the field came streaming be- 

 hind. The fox, however, proved equal to the 

 occasion, and after a desperate race for life, 

 slipped into the earth and saved his brush, 

 much to the chagrin of Mr Butler and the 

 Prince. 



In return for the many services Mr Butler 

 had done him, the Prince determined to give 

 him a present. He told him he might go to 

 the stable and choose any horse he liked, and Mr 

 Butler picked out a fine chestnut, with which 

 he was much delighted. His pleasure, however, 

 was rudely checked a few days later when a 

 message came to him that it was found the 

 chestnut did not belong to the Prince, and was 

 now wanted back by its owner. A cheque for 

 £150 that accompanied the news did not make 

 up for the disappointment, though not long 



