SEASON 1888-89 225 



rumoured lamb-killer, who was probably curled up 

 till dark at his master's fireside ! Most of Melton 

 had gone to see Donovan win the big prize at 

 Leicester, but of those out were Lady Augusta 

 Fane on a mealy bay, Miss Constance Gilchrist on 

 a gray, Count Zhrowski, who held a pioneer's place 

 when hounds did run ; Mr. Knowles, Mr. R. Pryor, 

 Mr. B. Lubbock, Mr. W. Chaplin, jun., Mr. and 

 Mrs. James Hornsby, Mrs. R. Ord, Sir Hugh 

 Cholmeley, Major Longstaffe, Major Pennington, 

 Mrs. Sloane Stanley, Captain Warner, Mons. Roy, 

 Mr. Salvin, and the Rev. J. P. Seabrooke. 



"Melton Spinney supplied a good fox which 

 gave a rattling twenty-five minutes over the brook 

 by Scalford to Holwell Mouth, where scent failed on 

 a newly-sown field. The bit of east in the wind 

 helped them ; there was all the scent they wanted 

 while near their fox, and on the grass, which rode 

 to perfection. Was there ever such a hunting 

 April ? Was there ever a brighter finish to a long 

 good season ? By Holwell Mouth, Gillard chose 

 the oxer in preference to the wolly place, and his 

 good mare Dublin Lass went gaily over and after- 

 wards. No sign of age in horse or man yet ! they 

 might be whipping in to John Musters for vigour 

 and keenness, and they are about the only couple 

 who forget to knock hard at the binders, or to 

 sound the shallow ditch," wrote Brooksby at the 

 end of Gillard's nineteenth season huntsman. 



The season finished on April 20th, with 115 

 days, 91 foxes were killed, and 17 days hounds 

 were stopped by weather. 



Q 



