292 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



hit off the line of the fox, and carrying it through 

 a narrow planting, his splendid voice quickly- 

 brought his comrades together, and their music 

 put life and dash in the whole thing again," is a 

 remark we take from Gillard's diary for the day. 



Two more days' sport went to finish the season, 

 which ended at Staunton with the big pack on the 

 28th, and singularly enough the last horse that 

 carried Frank Gillard as huntsman was old Fare- 

 well. When the whole stud was sent up for sale 

 at Leicester at the end of the season, the Duke of 

 Rutland made Frank Gillard a present of Farewell, 

 the son of Ripponden, and half-brother to Playfair, 

 winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, the 

 old horse winning a good steeplechase at Col wick 

 Park for his new owner. 



The number of foxes killed this season was 79, 

 making the grand total of 2709 from 1870 to 1896. 



An embaiv^as de richesse of substantial offers 

 to hunt the country were placed before the com- 

 mittee, their choice being Sir Gilbert Greenall from 

 Cheshire ; and Frank Gillard decided to retire at 

 the same time with the house of INIanners. Letters 

 of regret and sympathy were addressed to him from 

 all parts of the kingdom, all striking the same 

 note ; the following, from a master of hounds, 

 being a specimen of many others. " It is sad news 

 the Duke of Rutland giving up the Mastership of 

 the Belvoir, and I can well realise what you must 

 feel at the change that is coming after being such 

 a long time with the Belvoir. I quite think that 

 it is a national calamity. There is one satisfaction 



