248 The Pytchley Httnt, Past and Present. 



in finding servants able and willing to adapt themselves 

 to his condition. To h.im it was of great importance to 

 have quick and intelligent second horsemen. In William 

 Pridmore — now dead — and in the well-known Tom Jolly, 

 still to be seen delicately handling an impulsive young- 

 ster of Mr. Earl of Earl's Barton, he found all that he 

 could desire. 



Many a time during the day's hunting would it devolve 

 upon one of these to reduce into the vernacular the 

 words issuing from his mouth, or to interpret the myste- 

 rious language of the fingers. Each, when accompanying 

 his master in the hunting-field, formed a sort of " Refuge 

 for strangers in distress/' and was the means of reliev- 

 ing many a poor applicant for help. The survivor of 

 these two much-valued and useful followers still is to be 

 found at the Pytchley Monday Meets, and has no greater 

 pleasure than in recalling the events of forty years of 

 faithful service. He can tell of many a noble run of 

 which he has himself been an eye-witness, and of others of 

 which he has heard from his master^s mouth. Of the 

 latter none come up to a run with the Oakley in the time 

 of Grantley Berkeley, when a fox, found in Odell Wood, 

 was killed near Braybrooke, in the Market Harborough 

 country. 



Every Hunt rejoices in being able to record a run to 

 which may fairly be attached the title of ^'historical," 

 and the Oakley may well lay claim to that dignity for 

 this performance. 



The distance as the crow flies cannot be less than 

 sixteen miles, the greater part of it being through a strange 

 country and every hunting-man knows how greatly this 

 adds to the enjoyment of a run. 



It is often said that " the days of long-service are 



