EARLY DAYS IN LEICESTERSHIRE 27 



quick thing from Adam's Gorse. Knowing the 

 country perfectly, the fog made little difference to 

 him, and he was without difficulty able to keep in 

 touch with the pack. Just as he was going through 

 an open gateway at the bottom below Burrough, 

 Colonel — I don't think he had attained the rank 

 then — Forester came sailing down the hill, blind 

 and heedless of what he might be charging. It was 

 no small place, for in addition to the wide ditch 

 that lay beyond, a post and rail with ample margin 

 guarded the fence, but the horse must have been 

 a wonder, as my father said he cleared it without 

 an effort. Some forty years later I can recall an 

 afternoon gallop with the Cottesmore, or at least 

 one incident in it. I think we had found a fox in 

 Berry Gorse, and having left Leesthorpe to the 

 right, hounds were running fast up hill with the 

 Oakham turnpike a field to the left. In spite of 

 his sight, which had not improved, the Colonel 

 was gallantly taking his own line, away to my 

 right, but too far to warn him of the trap that lay 

 before him. It was an innocent-looking hedge, but 

 unfortunately had a ditch on either side, and the 

 horse, landing with his forelegs in the farther 

 ditch, over he went. A nasty fall for a young man, 

 but the veteran never let go of the bridle and was 

 soon going again. 



It was in conversation about dancing, hunting 

 or some other amusement — I forget really what 

 now — that a lady was remarking to the " Colonel " 

 she would soon have to give it up. His reply was, 

 " Never give anything up, my dear, wait till it 

 gives you up, you will find things give you up 

 quite soon enough." This seems to me very 



