198 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



it in, and the Cottesmore country was again vacant. 

 He, with the assistance of Thatcher as huntsman, 

 had shown excellent sport, and the affairs of the 

 hunt had run smoothly, which is always a sure sign 

 of good management. 



The Quorn had an extraordinary run at the end 

 of February 1907. They found their fox in Barkby- 

 Holt, and killed him in two hours and twenty minutes 

 at Newbold. Hounds were running fast most of 

 the time, and the fox must have been exceptionally 

 stout to have stood up so long. His point on first 

 leaving covert was Cream Gorse ; but foot people 

 and carriages forced him by Baggrave and Lowesby 

 nearly to John o' Gaunt. He was determined to 

 make his original point, and in spite of having to 

 face the wind made a bee-line for Cream Gorse. 

 However on arriving at that covert he was unable 

 to find a substitute, and was obliged to wander 

 down-wind till fate overtook him. 



Lord Lonsdale began his reign over the Cottes- 

 more in 1907, and had as huntsman a son of Gillson, 

 who was huntsman in the latter part of Mr. Baird's 

 time. No expense was spared in mounting the 

 hunt servants, and every detail of equipment was 

 as perfect as it could be made. An ill-fitting coat 

 on a huntsman may not spoil his chance of showing 

 sport, ^but, in the " Shires," a hunt should be as 

 smart as possible and a pattern to the " provinces." 

 Those who knew the new master were fully 

 aware that he would permit no slovenliness in 

 dress. 



I can just remember his father having the Cottes- 

 more, and to the best of my belief he rode in a 

 very low-crowned top hat ; but being only a small 



