Hunting in the Isle of Wight, 279 



heard that, thinking the coast was clear, he returned, 

 only to find his enemies lying in wait, and he was 

 forthwith captured and killed. Had I been the 

 Master, I would have let the gallant beast live ; but 

 then I have no right to set up my judgment against 

 that of so thorough and greatly respected a sportsman 

 as the popular Master of the Devon and Somerset, 

 Mr. Bissett, who has hunted this " country " for the 

 last twenty years and upwards ; but then, also, I am ex- 

 ceptional in my views, for if ever I am an M.F.H. I 

 will never dig out a fox that has gone to ground after 

 affording me a good gallop. 



Much more could I say of these beautiful hounds, 

 this magnificent country, and of the glorious sport of 

 hunting the wild red deer ; but I must reserve those 

 remarks to some more fitting and appropriate oppor- 

 tunity, being fully determined, however, if all goes 

 well, to spend a few days at Dulverton during next 

 autumn, in order to enjoy the royal sport once more. 

 Then my mind reverted to the glorious October morn 

 on which I rode with Frank Goodall and the Royal 

 Buckhounds through the lovely glades of Windsor 

 Forest, running our deer for two Lours and a half, 

 "through the woods, through the woods,^^ under a 

 broiling sun. Then I am, in imagination of course, 

 taking a breather with the Thanet Harriers over the 

 wide expanse of open " country ^' lying between Mar- 

 gate and Sandwich, and let me tell you that, fauie de 

 mieux, you may do worse than have a gallop with 

 this sporting little pack should the opportunity offer. 

 Next I am mounted on a sturdy little horse, following 

 the Southdown foxhounds over the Lewes Downs, 

 and across the stiff vale, during a persistent down- 



