204 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



activity the Belvoir woods were very welcome 

 exercise ground, being nearly always in fair going 

 condition, old hounds so disliking road exercise 

 that they have to be coupled to younger ones. 



On February 4th a fine day's sport was enjoyed 

 from Folkingham Big Gorse, a famous fox covert 

 which has given many a good run. Going away 

 past Stowe Green, they ran very fast to Horbling, 

 at the edge of the fen country on the dead level. 

 By the time Swaiton was reached the hounds had 

 travelled five miles in twenty minutes, and a check 

 occurred through the hard-riding field driving them 

 over the line. A successful cast hit it off again, 

 and they sailed away over Helpringham fen and 

 killed their fox handsomely on the banks of the 

 old Forty -Foot Drain, after running for one hour 

 and thirty minutes. In the Middle Ages this 

 famous drain or canal, which was originally cut by 

 the Romans, was the means of bringing stone 

 and materials to build the fine churches which are 

 dotted about all over the fens, and are so useful 

 as landmarks in this featureless country. Another 

 smart scurry with a fox started from Swarby Gorse 

 finished the day, the pack streaming away by the 

 Northing Plantation, Kelby, Aswarby, back to Silk 

 Willoughby, where they killed close to the clergy- 

 man's pantry -door after a race of five -and -thirty 

 minutes. The lights at the Belvoir kennels were 

 very welcome to the hunt staff when seen that 

 night about 9 P.M. 



Melton Mowbray is always full to overflowing 

 at the spring of the year, and the occasion of a 



