34 



STAG-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



exceptions, who are understood to frequent the flags in the 

 dog-days, and who ask to he allowed to sample the young 

 entry at inconvenient times. But I am generaHsing, or 

 rather averaging. Besides, even these exceptions rely for 

 their reputation chiefly upon two or three couple of easily 

 recognised hounds. One season, years ago, I hunted a little 

 from Brackley, and a ruddy whole-coloured Grafton bitch 

 called Glory was in constant request. Someone was always 

 cheering or chiding her. I even knew her by sight myself. 

 On November 12, 187'2, the Queen's Hounds ran a deer 

 called Highlander from Uxbridge Common through Lord 

 Ebury's park, and took him after a fine run. Frank Goodall, 

 who then hunted them, enters in his journal : ' I shall 

 never forget poor old Garland cutting the herd of deer 

 asunder in Moor Park, and carrying the line across the park 

 all by herself ; it was, indeed, most beautiful.' I wonder 

 if anybody else, out of I dare say 100 or 150 persons, 

 except Lord Cork and the whips even noticed Garland's 

 distinguished services on this occasion. Fortunately there 

 is always a per contra in most human affairs, and although 

 it is the fashion to pity the Queen's Hounds for all kinds 

 of humiliating indignities to which they are subjected 

 by their followers, they enjoy some advantages which do 

 not fall to the lot of foxhounds. Indeed, most of the 

 stock accusations of unfair riding made against the Queen's 

 field are unjust and as apocryphal as travellers' tales. If 

 the turn-out is properly selected and the laying-on properly 

 managed — and a Httle foresight on the part of the Master 

 and hunt-servants should always be able to compass this — 

 the pack should get away all together, and thus, though 

 they may of course be over-ridden, individual hounds are 

 not liable to be cut off and carried off the line, as constantly 

 happens when only three or four couple get away with the 

 fox, when the field is eager, and the first fence away from the 



