SEASON 1887-88 209 



family, reared within sound of the kennel, all 

 wished to adopt hunting as a profession. Every- 

 thing was game that walked about their home, 

 from the breed of fox-terriers, for which Frank was 

 celebrated, to the fowls, which were as good as it is 

 possible to get. Very wisely Gillard discouraged 

 the idea of the family following his footsteps, 

 knowing the hard work attending the calUng of a 

 whipper-in, and the keen competition for the higher 

 berth in these days, when so many gentlemen prefer 

 to carry the horn themselves, instead of paying a 

 professional. But the eldest son, Frank, was so 

 keenly bitten with the sport that he left a business, 

 and came this season as second whipper-in to his 

 father ; the other two brothers going to the Royal 

 Veterinary College of Surgeons, where they com- 

 pleted a course with distinction. Arthur Wilson 

 leaving to carry the horn for the York and Ainstry, 

 was succeeded by Will Jones, so that the new staff 

 had the geography of a large country to learn. 



A big day in the season's sport was December 

 2nd, when a large field met hounds at Weaver's 

 Lodge, one of the best fixtures on the Lincolnshire 

 side of the country. A find was proclaimed in 

 Sapperton Wood, the pack going screaming away 

 for Haydour Southings and Dembleby Thorns. 

 Turning from Newton Wood a check occurred, 

 but a halloa supplied the missing evidence, and a 

 man informed Gillard that his fox had gone by 

 twenty minutes ago. Consequently, it was slow 

 hunting up to Swarby Gorse. From this covert 

 hounds got away close at the brush of their fox, 



