THE OLD TIMES. 37 



up with explanations of technical terms, a list of the 

 hounds, a warning against certain "determined ras- 

 cally deer stealers;" a word in favour of two old 

 harbourers, " though accounted great knaves even by 

 their masters," and a list of fees, some of them very 

 curious, e.g. : — 



£ s. d. 



To the farmers who ride the chase and are at 



the death of a stag . . . . ,110 

 To the farmer who stops the tufters . . .026 

 To the footmen who assist in securing a stag 



when set up {i.e. at bay) . . . .0106 



and so forth. Finally comes the satisfactory sentence, 

 •' At present we have the undivided support of every 

 great proprietor in the resort of the deer." 



This was the state of the country when Lord For- 

 tescue assumed command, and in such favourable 

 circumstances it is not surprising that he had very 

 good sport and many good runs, including " the 

 longest chase ever remembered," from Dunkery to 

 Satterleigh, twenty-six miles as the crow flies. This, 

 however, lasted but six years. The expenses of a 

 general election for the county of Devon made further 

 tenure of the mastership impossible; and the stag- 

 hounds passed away from the Fortescues in 18 18 not 

 to return till 1881. 



