296 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



a better scent to which he is accustomed. Everyone 

 knows what a treasure a good road-hunter is in a 

 pack, and on Haldon foxes frequently run the roads 

 for very considerable distances. A harrier's patience 

 gives him an advantage in such circumstances. Then, 

 again, a foxhound draws best on a good-scenting day, 

 when there is a scent to draw him into thick covert — 

 I speak of countries where foxes are scarce and where 

 hounds are not continually drawing coverts where 

 they always find. A harrier, on the other hand, is a 

 busy, inquisitive individual and pokes his nose every- 

 where. Tongue, too, and plenty of it, is of the first 

 importance in the big woodlands. It is safe to say 

 that, once fairly settled to a fox, the Silverton rarely 

 leave him ; and though, in such a hollow country 

 as Haldon, a certain number naturally get to ground, 

 the average of kills is very high. With such a pack, 

 and with a huntsman like Mr. Pape, quiet, observant, 

 relying greatly upon his hounds, and with a persever- 

 ance that never tires, the sport on and around Haldon 

 during the past few years has been excellent. Refer- 

 ence has been made earlier to the number of wild 

 fallow deer that infest the country. It is sufficient to 

 say that the master has overcome this difficulty like 

 the rest, and with the aid of his whipper-in. Jack 

 Davie, has got the pack absolutely steady. Mr. J. 

 Shelley, son of Sir John Shelley, acted as an additional 

 whip for the two seasons immediately before the 

 war. Like so many others, he is now serving his 

 country abroad. May his return to his more peaceful 

 occupation be safe and speedy ! Mr. Pape himself 

 has recently joined up, having accepted a commission 

 in the Devon Regiment. In his absence, Mrs. Pape 

 attends to the business of the hunt, and the pack is 

 hunted by the whipper-in. 



