146 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



there was a scent, so that day after day hounds 

 scored excellent runs, making the riding division 

 very keen. Red marks of excellence are placed 

 against the sport of November 10th at Croxton 

 Park, the 13th at Goadby, 17th at Stonesby, 26th 

 at Rauceby, and 27th at Waltham, where we will 

 join the hunt. " This was a hard day for hounds 

 and horses, and we started by riding to Burbidge's 

 Covert, where we cracked our whips before throwing 

 the pack in. A fox was soon away over the river, 

 but hounds did not settle well to his line, and he 

 was headed a time or two, which also puzzled the 

 pack. After threading the Stapleford coverts he 

 went straight for Whissendine brook in a line for 

 Ranksborough Gorse, but was again headed by a 

 man plashing a fence. Turning back over the 

 Burton Flats, hounds again crossed the river and 

 railway by Wyfordby, running by Brentingby 

 and Thorpe Arnold, finally marking to ground 

 near Newport Lodge. It was a difficult fox 

 to hunt, never running straight for more than 

 two fields, and those who rode to hounds had 

 plenty to do to keep near them over a very strong 

 bit of country." 



The noble master was prevented hunting much 

 this season owing to rheumatic troubles in addition 

 to gout, but he took the liveliest interest in the 

 doings of the pack, and most mornings before 

 starting out Gillard would ride up to the Castle 

 dressed for the chase and see him in bed. The 

 affairs of the hunt were more often than not dis- 

 cussed under these conditions between Master and 



