210 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



of a very good run with the Belvoir, which finished 

 close to Ragdale, where the Penningtons then 

 lived. The account of the run is missing from my 

 Field cuttings, and I can only make a guess at the 

 actual date, but believe it was Wednesday, 13th 

 March 1889. 



Where hounds had met or what had happened 

 in the morning I have not the slightest idea 

 now ; but a much reduced field accompanied 

 Gillard to see him find the afternoon fox at Melton 

 Spinney. 



On the previous Saturday I had bought a horse 

 at Leicester just over from Ireland, and it was 

 his misfortune that this occasion should have 

 been chosen for his introduction to Leicestershire. 

 It was my usual custom to ride a new horse 

 first, and have an old friend second, but I rather 

 think the first horse that day was also a new 

 purchase. 



A fox was away at once and with hounds equally 

 quick after him, they ran a " cracker," nearly up 

 to the Waltham road, and back to within a field — 

 the Melton side — of the starting-point. My youngster 

 — rising five, but at the time I thought he was a 

 year older — had carried me brilHantly, and, of 

 course, I was dehghted with him. 



The fox had, I suppose, just made this preliminary 

 circle to find out if it was necessary to exert 

 himself further, and then reaUzing scent was too 

 good to dawdle about, he set his head for a distant 

 point. 



Having secured a good position, I meant seeing 

 the best of the fun, and incidentally trying still 

 further the abiUties of my new purchase. The 



