6o A GENEROUS COMPETITOR 



him ; and being slightly acquainted with Lord Ducie, 

 he could not forbear telling him the circumstances under 

 which he was placed, and the disappointment he felt at 

 having undertaken so long a journey for nothing — 

 competition with him being out of the question, and there- 

 fore that he should at once return home. 



" Stay," said Ducie, " until after the sale, since, if I 

 become the purchaser of the pack, I may be able to 

 assist you a little." 



Lord Ducie was the purchaser, and taking this gentle- 

 man into the kennel after the sale, he drew out five 

 couples for himself, and turning to his brother Master, 

 said — " All the other hounds are yours, if you will do 

 me the favour to accept them." 



The surprise of the other at this generous offer may 

 be imagined ; but not willing to accept it, he was 

 endeavouring to make some more equitable arrangement, 

 when Lord Ducie replied, " You must permit me to help 

 a brother Master in a difficult position in my own way, or 

 I shall send off the whole pack to my kennel." I need 

 scarcely add that, there being no alternative. Lord Ducie 

 enjoyed the gratification of having his own way. 



Some few years after this occurrence, my own pack 

 was visited by that most fatal malady — madness — 

 through which I lost several couples of most valuable 

 hounds ; when Lord Ducie, hearing of my disaster, 

 came over to see me, and on his return home two days 

 after, he despatched his whipper-in with fourteen couples 

 to my kennels, and this short note : — 



" My dear H., 



" As your pack will be short in numbers, I have 

 sent Jack with a few hounds I have lately purchased, 



