TERRIERS AT WORK. 57 



he soon gave it up when he had plenty of work. 

 He ran in my pack for ten years, and died in 1899, 

 full of years and honours, at the age of fourteen. 

 He was a grand dog underground, and was a rare 

 stayer. I never knew him, indeed, to be knocked 

 up, and when he was going otter-hunting he would 

 never go in the cart, but always ran to the meet, 

 generally some five or six miles, and after working 

 all day he followed the dog-cart home at night. 

 When he ran with hounds he would never look at 

 a rabbit, though at other times one of his greatest 

 delights was to hunt them. I often used to come 

 home for him when hounds had run to ground in 

 the neighbourhood, and directly he saw me he 

 seemed to know what he was wanted for. As soon 

 as he was let out he would spring at my horse's 

 nose, barking with excitement, and then run on in 

 front, up one road and down another, looking back 

 every instant to see if I was following. 



On one occasion when Lord Roberts was out our 

 fox went to ground at Stourton Caundle, and I 

 went home for Sharper. As usual the keeper met 

 me just before I reached the field and put a lead on 

 the old dog, as without this he was rather apt to 

 anticipate matters. He was not wanted for a few 

 minutes, and while he was being held Lord Roberts 

 rode by, and as he evidently had an eye for a 

 terrier he stopped and looked at Sharper. Then 

 he rode up to me and said — 



" Now that is a terrier I do admire. He looks 

 as if he could do anything." 



