ECHOES OF THE CHASE. 249 



him he said that he heard Beers when with the 

 Oakley had been free with his tongue to the 

 field. " I wish you to bear in mind," said Lord 

 Southampton, " that I shall not allow that here. 

 I reserve that privilege to myself." 



The reputation of Dick Stovin was made when 

 he was huntsman to Lord Valentia in the Bicester 

 country. So good was the sport Master and 

 huntsman then showed that the time may be 

 looked on as the golden age of the Bicester. 

 From the Bicester Stovin went to the Heythrop, 

 after a short time with Lord Pembroke. So 

 popular was he with all classes in the country 

 where he had been nine seasons that he received 

 quite a splendid testimonial on his departure. 

 From the ladies of the hunt this took the form 

 of an exquisitely chased horn, together with a 

 handsome offering from the Master. Another 

 from the keepers and earth-stoppers was given 

 him, with a purse containing 800 sovereigns. 

 Among the long list of names of the subscribers 

 to the gifts is that of Prince Albert Victor. 

 With the Heythrop hounds Stovin again had a 

 long run of good sport. It was while he was in 

 this country that a large dog-fox covered with 

 mange was once brought to him. Stovin took 

 care of the fox and treated him like a dog, and 

 when the time came to turn him down he was 

 as sleek and clean in coat as any fox in the 

 land. A wonderful black mare named Violet 

 carried Stovin for many years, and on her back 



