LORD LONSDALE 155 



right, and seeing our poor friend travelling down 

 the hill, set on his sheep-cur to course him. At 

 any other time the sheep-cur would have been 

 easily distanced but, with stiff muscles and that 

 still undigested hen, the dog gained at every yard. 

 The fence was only a few yards distant, and the 

 fox made heroic efforts to reach it. He thought 

 he was safe, and was already stooping to creep 

 the smeuse, when he felt the hot breath of the 

 dog, and a sharp grip across the loins. Turning 

 round savagely to do battle with his antagonist, 

 the unworthy cur fled, and with tail between his 

 legs returned to his master. The poor old customer 

 had, however, been bitten in a vital part, and he 

 was only able to drag himself to the field at Adam's 

 Gorse, there to lay himself down to die. A few 

 hours later the body was discovered." 



Although this was a very great run, and portions 

 of it were quite fast, it was not altogether satis- 

 factory from a riding point of view, at least that 

 was the impression left on me. The mere fact, 

 however, that a twelve-mile point was accomplished, 

 is sufficient in itself to place the Adam's Gorse run 

 amongst the most famous performances in the 

 history of hunting. 



I seem to have lost the pages which would 

 have reminded me that this was the year when 

 there were great changes at Belvoir. The Duke of 

 Rutland gave up the mastership, and Sir Gilbert 

 Greenall was appointed his successor. Frank 

 Gillard retired, and Ben Capell became huntsman 

 to the famous pack, which was lent to the country. 

 In the previous three seasons Lord Edward Manners 

 acted as field master, which had relieved Gillard 



