60 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



These were the occasions when Firr's exceptional 

 talents would come to the fore, and you might be 

 certain that if it were possible to retrieve the day, 

 it would be done. The day had been unproductive 

 of any amusement for the field, and it was plainly 

 evident to us the fox was getting farther ahead 

 every moment. Not half a mile away was Adam's 

 Gorse, and it was then, as it is to-day, the home of 

 good foxes ; but at that time it was a gorse only in 

 name, and there was very little lying in the spinney. 

 Firr galloped on towards the covert to get on better 

 terms with his own fox or to cross the line of another. 

 A whip was sent on so that there should be no 

 mistake, and a minute later hounds were streaming 

 up the hillside that protects the covert from the 

 east. There was not a great scent, but it had im- 

 proved considerably since the morning, and we had 

 got away on good terms. I remember, however, 

 we had to gallop best pace to keep in touch with 

 the pack as they swept down on to the old steeple- 

 chase course and then bore left-handed towards 

 Burdett's covert. The fox then for some reason 

 turned up the hill in the direction of Great Dalby, 

 and thereby took us over some very stiff fencing 

 before bringing us to the road by Gartree Hill. 

 Hounds never entered the covert, but just skirted the 

 boundary hedge to emerge beyond on to the Burton 

 Flat. Here were one or two fields of plough, but 

 scent had improved so much that hounds were able to 

 cross it quicker than horses, and, of course, directly 

 they touched the grass again they were flying along 

 at top speed. We seemed to have only just left 

 Gartree Hill and a few minutes later we were in the 

 big field by Brentingby gate-house. If you know 



