CAPTAIN BURNS-HARTOPP 171 



left-handed and marked their fox to ground in the 

 earths at Spring Hill Spinney. For the first 

 twenty minutes there were only about half a 

 dozen men with hounds. I was not there to see 

 it, but honestly beheve this was a very great 

 gallop. 



Kirby Gate gave us a good run that season, 

 a fox from Gartree Hill making a six-mile point 

 and dying gamely in the Belvoir country. 



Towards the end of the month the Quorn ran 

 from Barkby-Holt to Brooksby, and killed their 

 fox on the banks of the river. Then on the 

 following Monday the same pack killed a leash 

 of foxes in the Widmerpool country, so that 

 Kyte was showing good sport in spite of his in- 

 experience. 



The last Saturday in November brought the 

 Belvoir a slice of luck in the shape of a rattling 

 gallop from Sherbrooke's covert. Hounds ran over 

 some of the best of the vale, and then ascending 

 the hill killed their fox near Widmerpool — thirty- 

 five minutes at racing pace. 



The previous month had been productive of 

 great sport ; but December brought with it several 

 days of frost. Hunting commenced again after 

 Christmas, and the Cottesmore had an exceptionally 

 good run from Mr. Peake's covert to Melton 

 Spinney. The first part of this run was at only 

 a moderate pace ; but the fox having waited at 

 Gartree Hill a fresh start was made, and then 

 hounds ran very fast on to the finish. From 

 Gartree Hill to Melton Spinney in thirty-five 

 minutes is pretty good going. 



Unfortunately the earths were open or they 



