CHAPTER VII 



THE LATE MR. W. MORTIMER 



TT is not hyperbole to say that few men have done as 

 * much to promote the sport of fox-hunting in Surrey 

 as the late Mr. W. Mortimer, whose long association with 

 the Old Surrey has been briefly indicated in a previous 

 chapter. He assisted Sir Edmund Antrobus in the 

 Mastership as far back as 1843, and, maintaining his 

 connexion with the pack uninterruptedly, he was the sole 

 Master during the years 1871 to 1877. No more 

 popular chief has ever acted in that capacity. His 

 devotion to hunting was part of his life ; he was never so 

 happy as when he was in the saddle. And a good judge, 

 too ! 



No matter, for example, how distant the meet, Mr. 

 Mortimer always rode there ; whilst, similarly, he returned 

 home in the same manner, even if the journey extended 

 to many miles. He never seemed to tire, and his 

 enthusiasm for horse and hound was unbounded, indomit- 

 able. He was a fine, bold rider over a country : it was a 

 big place that stopped him when hounds were running. 

 Nor was he too masterful in the field, showing a genial 

 courtesy which gained for him a host of admiring friends. 



" It is my business," he remarked, " as well as my 

 h 49 



