CAPTAIN FORESTER TO THE WAR 199 



boy at the time am not very certain. At that 

 time Mr. Tailby had a large sHce of the country. 



The Belvoir gallop from Stonesby Gorse to 

 Wymondham, and thence on to Gunby Gorse, was 

 probably the fastest of anything seen that season. 

 Hounds could have gone no faster, and there was 

 not the sign of a check until they reached Wymond- 

 ham — a steeplechase with less than half a dozen 

 men anywhere near the flying pack. The second 

 portion of the run was at a more moderate pace, 

 and there was no kill at the finish, so that we may 

 conclude there was a change somewhere. 



The best hunting run of the season in my opinion 

 was with the Quorn on 21st February, when they 

 found a fox in the Coplow and killed him at Little 

 Dalby. The fox was probably an old veteran 

 who had found out that huntsmen dislike a railway, 

 and no doubt had often escaped pursuit by sticking 

 close to the metals. On this occasion he dodged 

 to and fro across the line several times before 

 reaching Lowesby station ; but finding then that 

 these wiles had not shaken off his pursuers went 

 boldly across the open. Leaving Tilton station 

 to the right, he changed his course on reaching 

 the base of Whatboro Hill, and swinging to the 

 left went straight away to Owston village. The 

 earlier part of the run had not been over a very 

 rideable country ; but after the turn it could not 

 have been improved upon. Hounds and huntsman 

 both seemed to realize they were hunting a good 

 fox. 



Somerby was left to the right, Burrough Hill 

 Wood to the left, and it was not until the fox had 

 almost entered Great Dalby that he bore to the 



