The Revs. P. A. Butler and *' Billy Butler " 131 



Later, in his curate days, he hunted mostly v^dth the Warn- 

 ham staghounds, Surrey Union, Crawly and Horsham, Lord 

 Leconfield's and the Chiddingfold. It was during this period 

 that he owned the best hunter of his life, a lean, one-eyed 

 chestnut named " Cyclop," a very clever three-quarter bred 

 mare, a marvel over timber — ^and what a joy a real good timber- 

 jumper is ! the delightful flick of the quarters that just does the 

 trick. The way an accomplished hunter who loves jumping 

 settles down and arranges his own paces when he sees timber 

 ahead of him is beautiful to behold, and still more beautiful to 

 experience. 



Once Mr. Butler hunted a pack of his own. It consisted of a 

 bob-tailed harrier, two beagles, a Gordon setter, a poodle, and 

 various terriers. Generally they ran a " drag," but one epoch- 

 making day the only resident hare of the neighbourhood was 

 encountered in Bembridge Marsh and hunted for half an hour 

 with this motley but happy and sporting pack to the accompani- 

 ment of the most soul-stirring music, all running with wonderful 

 dash and drive. Whether the poodle or the bob-tailed harrier 

 led the van I know not, but suddenly they checked, no amount 

 of casting recovered the line. Any ordinary pack might have 

 lost the hare ; not so his reverence's, for the trusty setter came 

 to the rescue, standing firm and staunch at a hedge. Quickly 

 the huntsman got his pack to the other side of the hedge and 

 lured the setter on. Result — a kill, and to-day the vicarage 

 study wall is ornamented with puss's profile. 



Most of us who go out hunting meaning real business meet 

 with nasty falls now and then, but happily we do not often get 

 jumped on, which was the unpleasant experience of Mr. Butler, 

 whose face was " somewhat bashed out of shape," as he ex- 

 presses it, and left him looking " almost as if a professional 

 pugilist had been walking all over it." 



Unfortunately the very next day there was a village wedding, 

 and the couple with their friends were hoping to see their vicar 

 handsome and imposing as usual. Not wishing to disappoint 

 his parishioners by having a deputy, Mr. Butler struggled to the 

 church. Whether he succeeded in seeing out of one of his 

 " jumped on " eyes or whether he knew the service by heart I 

 cannot say ; perhaps it was between the tv,'o, and combined 

 with pluck and grit, he got satisfactorily through the service. 



