274 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



a royal after a run of sixteen miles, completed in an hour 

 and a half. The number of red deer within or near the 

 New Forest is now very small ; and they afford sport on 

 two or three days at most during the year. On the day 

 in question a fine stag was harboured and roused in one 

 of Lord Radnor's coverts ; the pack was laid on as he 

 pointed for the Forest ; and they ran him across the best 

 of it, the open moorland of Ocknell and neighbourhood. 

 The first half-hour was very fast indeed, and the final half- 

 hour very exciting. After doubling at last in the wood of 

 Kingsgarn — as I learn — hounds set up their deer after 

 racing him some twenty minutes to water. He then 

 broke his bay, to take refuge finally within the grounds 

 of the Powder Works. With his back to the fence he 

 easily kept hounds off him, though his well-known 

 antlers had, most unfortunately, been shed during the 

 week past. At last a rope was thrown over his head, and 

 the big stag was made venison. This run was by no 

 means straight, being rather in the shape of a figure 

 of eight ; but hounds ran very hard throughout, and 

 the chase must have been one of great merit and 

 charm. 



Returning to the fallow deer, it should be noted that, 

 though on Monday scent was weak and insufficient — 

 as, indeed, it is said to have been ever since the ground 

 became so determinedly dry — it was very dift'erent when 

 the pack recommenced work about the end of February. 

 Then, in fourteen days, hounds killed seventeen deer, 

 many of them good bucks, and after fine runs. 



I have no more to add but to repeat, with very earnest 

 endorsement, the universal expression of deep regret that 

 Captain Lovell should feel himself compelled to lay aside 

 the strain and burden of mastership, and to relinquish 

 management of a sport he himself created and had 

 brought to such perfection. For my own pleasant ex- 

 periences at his kindly and courteous hands I thank him 

 most cordially. 



