CAPTAIN WARNER'S CLOSING SEASONS 131 



on Monday, the 24th, after a deluge on the previous 

 day. 



They had the good luck to find an old veteran 

 in Shoby Scoles, and with a capital scent ran 

 him to death. His first point was the drain at 

 Hoby Rectory, taking Ragdale on the way ; but the 

 master had previously given instructions for the 

 entrance to the drain to be permanently closed 

 for the season. This old fox had doubtless 

 frequently taken refuge there before, and doubt- 

 less expected to find sanctuary there on this 

 occasion. 



His subsequent wanderings led us over a most 

 unusual line, and I do not ever remember hounds 

 running it either before or since. 



The river was crossed below Rotherby, when 

 the pack swung to the left and ran very fast towards 

 Frisby ; but on approaching the latter village they 

 turned up the hill and crossed the Leicester main 

 road as if for Cream Gorse. I think the fox knew 

 that covert and had thoughts of going there, but the 

 wind was against him, which doubtless influenced 

 him in recrossing the river and going north. The 

 place where hounds actually crossed was close to 

 the clump of Scotch fir near Asfordby ; but as the 

 river was in flood no one seemed anxious for a swim, 

 and the nearest ford was some distance away. I 

 don't think we caught them until they were on the 

 Grimstone tunnel, where they had checked. On 

 the line being recovered the pace increased, and 

 horses that had already begun to flag were asked to 

 face some stiff country in the direction of Asfordby 

 furnaces. The fox then ran the ironstone rail- 

 way for fully a mile, and until he crossed the 



