SEASON 1875-76 79 



poor Peck, and he was marched back to the lock-up 

 in Grantham, red coat, top-boots, and all. He 

 had the sympathy of all who knew him, and it 

 was some little satisfaction to know he had 

 punished the policeman, though he made himself 

 amenable to the law by doing so. 



A brilliant gallop of fifty minutes came off 

 from Aswarby Thorns on January 25th, hounds 

 racing over the park, forward by Swarby and 

 Aunsby, through Dembleby Thorns, Nightingale 

 Gorse, and Haceby coverts, straight as a rocket. 

 On the far side of Sapperton Wood, near to 

 Pickworth village, the leading hounds were but a 

 few yards behind their fox, and a kill looked a 

 certainty. Directly this good fox found the pack 

 so close at his brush, he turned sharp down wind, 

 and immediately all trace of scent vanished. 

 Those who held good places in the run were Sir 

 Thomas Whichcote, Major Longstaffe, Mr. John 

 Welby, Mr. John Hardy, and Mr. F. Searson. 

 Amongst the school of old sportsmen who were to 

 the fore at this period was Mr. Micklethwaite, who 

 had rooms at Grantham, over White's the saddler. 

 The old gentleman was quite a character, wearing 

 a red flannel jacket over his scarlet coat, and nearly 

 always riding a roarer. It was his custom never 

 to go first at a fence except every one else was 

 pounded, and it was a case of in or over. If he 

 got the right side he would wait to see how 

 they followed on, enjoying the fun. There was 

 no occasion to read the newspaper when Mr. 

 Micklethwaite came out hunting, for he was 



