180 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



Scent had been provokingly bad all the season ; 

 but it improved considerably in March, and on 

 the eleventh of that month the Quorn had a very 

 fast ring from Walton Thorns, and killed their fox. 

 This covert is on the edge of the tableland or wolds, 

 as it is called, and numerous valleys run from it, 

 so that a ring from here may mean compassing a 

 wide extent of country. The ring included Sea- 

 grave and Burton Spinneys, which probably meant 

 nearly twelve miles of excellent grass. 



On the following Friday the same pack had a 

 smart gallop from Scraptoft Gorse. The start was 

 not very promising ; but when hounds turned back 

 from Thurnby station to Scraptoft gardens they 

 settled down to run hard, and never hesitated or 

 slacked till they had bowled their fox over hand- 

 somely in the open between Quenby and the Coplow. 



The Bel voir had a most enjoyable run from 

 Burbidge's covert on 20th March, the fox just 

 beating them by going to ground in a breeding 

 earth at Thorpe Satchville. I remember the 

 occasion well, and that the deputy master led us 

 to the hill overlooking the covert instead of sub- 

 jecting us to the usual scrambling start and dash 

 through the ford. 



The deputy acting for Sir Gilbert Greenall 

 was Mr. " Ned " Griffiths, and he made a most 

 excellent field master, curbing the too ardent spirits 

 with a firm hand, but doing it with such a pleasant 

 manner that no one could feel hurt. That day 

 was not the sort to expect a scent, a strong wind 

 was blowing, and other conditions were unfavour- 

 able ; but hounds can generally run a fox which 

 goes straight. 



