294 ^ilk (^^^d Scarlet, 



man knew better, and another nose was added to the 

 Heythrop store. 

 Old Affable ^'^ ^ proof of Jem's high esteem, old 



Nathan was crossed with Affable. This 

 renowned bitch was by Assheton Smith's Ruler, by 

 Harlock's Freeman, and from Beaufort's Artful, but 

 falling blind with the distemper, she was never entered. 

 Ruler came with Jem's baggage in the waggon from 

 Lord Ducie's, and was such a miserable object, that 

 Mr. Smith when he saw him as he was, and what he 

 became, used to declare that no one " ever can know 

 them till they're two." Affable nicked well with the 

 Tarquin and Rocket sort, but her best puppy. Merlin, 

 by Manager by Oakley Factor, wasted early from 

 kennel lameness. She bred forty-five couple in all, 

 and the greater part of two litters from her were 

 entered in one year. Six Affables figure in the Hey- 

 throp picture, and their dam was as keen of the sport 

 as any of them. When she got hold of a fox's head, 

 she would tear it in pieces, and go fairly crazy with 

 joy. In lack of nobler game, she would wander away 

 to Woodstock after rabbits for her puppies, crown 

 down on to them, and steadily dig them out. Lord 

 Dillon had her, and sent her home to pup ; but she 

 did not admire her change of quarters, and made a 

 well-meant attempt to carry her puppies back to 

 Ditchley. By crossing the brook, and thus avoiding 

 the village, she got four young Plunders safely de- 

 posited on the common, and she had carried one on 

 and was leaving it on the steward's door step, when 

 she was discovered. They also say that she was as 

 good as the blind guide on the Eastern Counties line, 

 and that a ladies' maid, who had got lost in the wood 

 coming from Chesbury, would have been left out all 

 night, if she had not met her rabbit-hunting, and sub- 

 mitted to her pilotage. 

 The Rockets. Rocket, to whom Mystery is now 



closest allied in blood, was another pre- 



