SEASON 1887-88 211 



find recorded that the pack assembled at Croxton 

 Park, starting a good hunting run from Sproxton 

 Thorns, ending by marking to ground in a rabbit 

 burrow by Stonesby. The second was a very fast 

 ten-minute burst from Coston Covert, with a mark 

 to ground in the artificial earths at Sproxton. A 

 third gallop finished the day, from Bescaby Oaks, 

 hounds being stopped by darkness at Piper Hole 

 Gorse. " Though it was late, about thirty horse- 

 men remained to the finish, though darkness made 

 it difficult to distinguish who they were," wrote 

 Gillard ; " but I found Mr. Gubbins, his nephew 

 (Mr. Dring), the steeplechase rider (Mr. Beasley), 

 and Mr. James Hutchinson." 



"The day the big pack of 21J couple met at 

 Easton Hall, December 19th, is one to be re- 

 membered, first because we hunted in two inches 

 of snow, and secondly because we joined with the 

 Cottesmore. A find was proclaimed in Easton 

 Wood, and when running to the left of Witham 

 big wood the cry of the Cottesmore hounds was 

 heard, each pack running within a field of one 

 another, coming together in Cabbage Hill Wood, 

 after which they ran in company to Castle Bytham. 

 Scent was fair, which enabled them to run hard 

 at times, and on two or three occasions I pointed 

 out to Mr. Baird that several Belvoir hounds were 

 running at the head of the combined pack. Gordon, 

 General, and Nightdew put the others right when 

 difficulties arose. In Castle Bytham village much 

 confusion was caused by villagers who headed us, 

 and then we were unlucky enough to get on to a 



