246 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



possession — an old head upon young shoulders. In 

 addition, he had been a strong ally of poor Collings, 

 and from him had learned much both of the routine 

 of the kennel and of those intricacies of the chase 

 which are patent only to those who know where to 

 look for them and who have a personal acquaintance 

 with the individuals composing the pack. Above all, 

 he was, in the words of Beckford, " fond of the 

 diversion and indefatigable in the pursuit of it." He 

 also had a good knowledge of the country and was 

 well known and well liked by the natives. With 

 these advantages, it was not surprising to those who 

 knew Mr. Rendell to find him settling down quietly 

 and naturally in his new vocation. He shewed a 

 natural aptitude for the work and turned out a 

 capital huntsman, quick, yet steady, always with his 

 hounds and very observant of their movements, and 

 shewing also considerable knowledge of the habits of 

 the fox. He could use his voice in the woodlands, 

 but, like all huntsmen of experience, was chary of its 

 use on the moor where the chatter of the field alone 

 will disturb a fox a mile away down- wind. I have 

 heard one of the oldest sportsmen in the country, 

 and a good judge to boot, declare that he never saw 

 anything better than Mr. Rendell's style in drawing 

 the open moor : his hounds not spreading too far, 

 and one whipper-in wide on each side of him. The 

 whole pack then had a chance of getting away in a 

 body, often " right on the back " of a fox, and fast 

 and furious was the burst that would follow. Mr. 

 Rendell took up his residence at Tor Newton House, 

 a central position about a mile distant from the 

 kennels at Pulsford Hills. He was so fortunate as to 

 have a wife in thorough sympathy with his tastes. 

 Mrs. Rendell was herself keenly interested in the sport 



