Lord Spe7tcers Mastership. 2 1 3 



and what is not, a hunting morning ; and so deceive our- 

 selves. Captain Bruiser arrives at the Meet rejoicing 

 in the southerly wind and the cloudy sky, or maybe in 

 the clear but sunless surroundings of a December day. 

 He at once jumps to the conclusion that a clinking scent 

 is sure and certain ; and he hails the presiding deity 

 in cap and boots with ^' Morning, Will, sure to be a 

 rattling scent to-day ; " but the too sanguine Captain has 

 missed the cobwebs in the hedge, and has looked upon 

 the rolling of the hounds as possibly a happy thought for 

 passing the time. Not so the Huntsman ; nothing has 

 escaped his vigilant eye, and he cautiously replies, " I 

 hope so, sir, but I don't like saying much beforehand 

 about good scents or bad scents : the more I see of hunt- 

 ing the less I know, it seems to me, about that article.'^ 

 Sensible huntsman ! He has learnt the virtue of the 

 Yankee advice, '^ Never prophesy unless yer know.'' A. 

 glance having passed between the Master and Huntsman, 

 away trot the hounds, headed by the first Whip, rejoicing 

 in the knowledge that their fun is soon to begin. In less 

 than eighteen minutes every bush in the neighbouring 

 gorse seems suddenly alive, and hound leaps over hound, 

 jealous lest his brother of the kennel should be the first 

 to fling his tongue. A ringing " view " proclaims the 

 departure of the fox, and being close upon his back 

 the pack have no difficulty in making him feel that he 

 must put his best foot first. ^' Just as I though t,'' 

 says Captain Bruiser to himself; ^'there's a rattling 

 scent, and no mistake."" But the words have scarcely 

 escaped his lips when there is a sudden slackening in 

 the pace, the leading hounds half-stopping throw them- 

 selves to right and left, whilst the duffers commence to 



