CAPT. BURNS-HARTOPP'S FINAL SEASONS 185 



with and congratulated Bishopp when a few 

 minutes later hounds were tearing their victim 

 to bits. The same pack had another run on the 

 following Friday, when, after finding a fox in the 

 Prince of Wales, they ran him round by Gaddesby, 

 Rearsby and Brooksby, to turn back and kill him 

 at Barsby. 



It was about this time we heard of Lord Edward 

 Manners' death. 



For several seasons he was acting master before 

 Sir Gilbert Greenall took the Belvoir, and very 

 excellently he filled the post. I have already said 

 that Thatcher was a much better huntsman than 

 those who wished to criticize him would believe, 

 and I come now to an extraordinary good hunting 

 run with the Cottesmore, in which I thought he 

 displayed marked skill. The occasion was on 

 7th March, when the meet was at Stapleford, and 

 scent was distinctly bad. The fox was found on 

 the Burton Flat and not far from Gartree Hill. 

 First of all, he went towards Melton, and then 

 bearing to the right passed through Burbidge's 

 to Brentingby, after crossing and recrossing the 

 river. He then seemed to change his mind — think 

 he had found the earth closed — and made a bee- 

 line for Somerby, but when within hail of that 

 village swung off to the left. 



From this point up to Ranksboro' hounds could 

 only run in spasms in spite of it being a fine stretch 

 of good scenting turf. At this covert the second- 

 whip had galloped on, and was just in time to view 

 our fox away. 



Scent, I think, was improving, and hounds ran 

 at a brisk pace to Whissendine and from thence on 



