DR. HENRY SEARLE GAYE 197 



Wright, who joined Mr. Hext, the continuing- 

 honorary secretary. Mr. Wright, in consequence 

 of other calls on his time, only held the office until 

 1889, tendering his resignation in August of that 

 year, leaving Mr. Hext to carry on the duties single- 

 handed. 



Mr. Whidborne's former huntsman, Jack Whit- 

 more, was taken on and hunted the pack for the 

 Doctor's first season. At the end of it the master's 

 patience was exhausted and he left. Gaye was 

 at some loss to replace him, but ultimately 

 his eye fell upon James Collings, then in his 

 twelfth season as huntsman to the South Pool 

 Harriers, of which Captain Hallifax was master. I 

 believe Mr. Parnell Tucker of Ashburton was chiefly 

 instrumental in directing the master's attention to 

 Collings. Captain Hallifax readily consented to 

 Dr. Gaye's approaching Collings, saying that, although 

 he could not replace him, he would not stand in the 

 way of any man's promotion from harriers to fox- 

 hounds. 



The Doctor, like most foxhunters, was prejudiced 

 against a harrier huntsman for foxhounds, ^ but what 

 he saw and heard of Collings convinced him that the 

 man was above the average and that he had not only 

 the necessary qualifications but also the sense and 

 ability to adapt himself and his methods to hunting 

 the fox. Collings was accordingly engaged, and the 

 result amply justified his selection. 



On his leaving the South Pool Harriers, he was 

 presented, in June, 1886, with a testimonial consist- 

 ing of a purse of £31 and a silver horn. The presenta- 



* It is perhaps not generally known that Frank Gillard, the celebrated 

 Belvoir huntsman and a Devonshire man, began his career as huntsman to a 

 pack of harriers in North Devon. 



