With the Pytchley, 99 



in Northamptonsliire are accommodated, tlie extent 

 over whicli the Pytchle}^ draw being somewhere about 

 forty square miles. 



Of Lord Spencer as a sportsman it is impossible to 

 speak too liiglily. A first-rate huntsman, a perfect 

 horseman, a very glutton for sport, never leaving off 

 whilst there is a glimpse of daylight, he is as popular 

 as it is possible for any master of foxhounds to be. 

 At the word of command Goodall trots away, followed 

 by a cavalcade on foot, on horseback, and in carriages, 

 and the hounds are speedily thrown into the often- 

 drawn Crick covert. And it is a noticeable feature in 

 the management of these hounds that the field is 

 under the most perfect control of the noble Master — 

 to an extent, in fact, that I have never witnessed 

 with any other pack I have seen — no one being 

 allowed to go beyond a certain defined line, in order 

 to give the fox a fair chance of getting away, after 

 which you may have your wicked will, and ride over 

 the hounds if you can — that is, whilst they are going 

 the pace. Havings with some of the still remaining 

 impetuosity of youth, gone beyond the line of demar- 

 cation, I am bid to hold hard and return within proper 

 bounds ; and promptly obeying the command, I am 

 courteously thanked by his lordship for my ready 

 compliance with his request. I have known in my 

 time several masters of hounds who, under the circum- 

 stances, would have used more forcible, if less pleasant, 

 language to any one who endangered other people's 

 sport in his endeavour to secure a good start for 

 himself. 



This circumstance recalls to my mind a story which 

 was told of the late Lord Strathmore, the owner of 



7—2 



