184 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



Park nearly to Waltham was, however, equally 

 good, and also ended with a kill. 



The Belvoir had several fast gallops, but on 

 Wednesday, nth February, they had two runs 

 which eclipsed all others for pace. The first one 

 was from Bescaby Oaks to the artificial earth in 

 the valley below Freeby ; but nearly the whole 

 field were left, and hardly anyone saw it. The 

 second fox was found in Newman's Gorse, and after 

 an exceptionally fast burst of twenty-five minutes 

 was killed in Annis' Gorse. 



The Quorn had an exceptionally fine hunting 

 run on 23rd February, finding their fox in Grim- 

 stone Gorse, and killing him at Stathern as he 

 vainly tried to reach the Belvoir woods. 



Bishopp excelled himself on this occasion, and I 

 have no hesitation in saying that the run, with its 

 brilliant finish, was entirely due to him. After 

 leaving Clawson Thorn, we descended to the vale, 

 and though scent was only moderate the pace to 

 Stathern was very good. This is a big village, 

 and there are so many places round human habi- 

 tations in which a fox can hide, that we feared he 

 might escape. I galloped on through the village 

 and down the road to the station, when I was fortu- 

 nately able to view the fox. He had not seen or 

 heard me, and I did not holloa, but just watched 

 him. To my surprise he went down to the mouth 

 of a pond and was some seconds lapping up water. 



I always want to see a fox killed that has been 

 hunted, but I must confess that on this occasion 

 my sympathies were with the weary and thirsty 

 animal. 



In spite of this temporary weakness I rejoiced 



