270 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



CHAPTER XXXIX 



THE NEW FOREST DEERHOUNDS 



The long and well-honoured association of Captain Lovell 

 with the chase of the wild deer of the New Forest practi- 

 cally terminated on Monday, April 23. It is over forty 

 years since Captain Lovell initiated the sport, and proved 

 that the fallow buck could be made to run before hounds. 

 From that date to this his pack has been steadily main- 

 tained and improved ; the method of hunting was gradu- 

 ally developed into a science ; and not only the residents 

 of the Forest, but numberless visitors in spring and autumn, 

 have been regaled with a true and very charming sport. 

 Until some few years ago, the whole burden of the chase 

 was borne by himself and his daughters. Since then he 

 has taught a huntsman — Allen — whose services, together 

 with the use of the well-drilled pack, will assist the in- 

 coming Master to carry on the work as much as possible 

 on the same lines as those of the original exponent, whose 

 retirement is so deeply and widely regretted. 



I may note at once that his successor is to be 

 Mr. Walker, late. Master of the Croome, who, in under- 

 taking a task that is necessarily entirely new to him, will 

 at least have the great advantage of a Mentor the most 

 capable and well-disposed, besides finding the authorities 

 of the Forest equally desirous that a sport so exclusively 

 connected with the English National Park should be main- 

 tained at its present high standard. 



In ordinary years the hunting of the wild fallow-deer 

 has been continued until about May 5, but at the end of 

 last week it was found impracticable to carry it on to the 

 usual date, and Monday was accordingly fixed for a final 

 meet — New Park, on the lower forest and close to 

 Brockenhurst, being named for the occasion. So, com- 

 paratively early on that broiling morning, I found myself 

 taking the steam covert-hack at Waterloo Station. Already 

 the atmosphere was too hot and stifling to admit of a 

 greatcoat. Whether my sensitiveness or natural modesty 



