244 MEMOIR OF 



out over the moor wall, a boundary fence big 

 enough to stop the course of a native red deer. 



And now it was that Mrs. Russell, a wee bit 

 anxious, perhaps, to rival the renown so justly 

 earned by Mrs. Horndon as a forward and 

 intrepid rider, not only " set " that lady, but 

 every man in the field : for, putting Tickler 

 without a moment's hesitation at the formidable 

 barrier, and landing safely over the deep trench 

 on the off side, away she went with the leading 

 hounds for a considerable distance, literally alone 

 in her glory. They were then within less than 

 a mile of the very cover, near Exford, from 

 which Russell had brought the dog-fox in the 

 previous month ; and he was now pointing 

 directly for it, when a terrific shower of hail 

 and rain fell like a waterspout around them, 

 washing away every particle of scent, and com- 

 pelling the baffled hounds to put down their 

 noses in vain. 



So, this Hector of the moor, having once 

 beaten Russell's hounds, and again, by the in- 

 tervention of Jupiter himself, triumphed over 

 the crack pack of the South, was toasted that 

 night, during the symposium at the George Inn, 

 with mighty enthusiasm ; the identity of the 

 gallant animal being no longer questioned even 

 by the doubting Houlditch. 



During these meetings at South Molton, 

 which continued to flourish under Russell's 



