102 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



not likely to be favourable to hunting, so far, at any 

 rate, as Surrey is concerned. 



Naturally Sam Hills is prone to speak warmly anent 

 these points. He has devoted his life to hunting, and 

 wishes the ancient traditions to be maintained. " The 

 Old Surrey country," he remarked incidentally, " used to 

 be rough and cramped, with plenty of big banks and 

 ditches, but now the enclosures are not so thickly fenced, 

 and there is not so much jumping to be done. Still, as I 

 may repeat, it wants a clever horse, and one thoroughly 

 c schooled ' to the district. They soon come to it," he 

 added with appreciation, "after they have been down two 

 or three times." 



Then, examining a few of his sporting relics, we 

 noticed — needless to say, with admiration — a handsome 

 fox's brush suspended over his mantelpiece in the dining- 

 room. Our heart was stirred. "As to that now ? " we 

 murmured, and sat tight to await developments. 



The old gentleman sighed. Exciting memories had 

 evidently been stimulated : he lived in the grand sporting 

 past again. 



" Oh, as to that," he replied, with a light in his eyes, 

 " that is my last brush." 



His last brush ! There was a world of pathos and 

 suggestion in the words ; probably only a huntsman or an 

 ardent Nimrod can realize their full meaning and signifi- 

 cance. His last brush ! Assuredly it was a fitting crown 

 to a bright sporting career. 



And then Sam Hills briefly described for our edifica- 



