230 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



and it calls to mind a characteristic story told 

 of Mr. Nicholas Parry, Master of the Puckeridge, 

 who when on his deathbed was asked, " If you 

 could live your life over again, what should you 

 do different from what you have done ? " "I should 

 put in a few more days before Christmas," was the 

 reply ; and they are worth all the sport we see after, 

 say we. 



A long woodland day on January 10th ended 

 up in Bourne Wood. Gillard remarks : " In all my 

 experience I never knew such a dark night, for 

 after leaving Ingoldsby our horses kept getting off 

 the road ; consequently, we borrowed a candle and 

 lantern, which proved useful. I kept sounding my 

 horn to give people warning of our approach, and 

 we found a horse and carriage quite lost in the 

 pitchy darkness, not daring to move ! " 



A meet at Weaver's Lodge, though of late 

 years it has appeared to bring frost, at one time of 

 day always drew a large field from two counties. 

 On the occasion of January 17th, when hounds 

 assembled there, a curious accident happened to a 

 sportsman on wheels. When going down Newton 

 Hill, the horse that Mr. E. Lubbock was riding 

 crossed its legs and fell, sprang up again and 

 galloped away riderless. In its mad career it 

 cannoned broadside against a pony -cart and up- 

 set the whole concern with its occupant, though 

 fortunately doing little damage. 



A fine day's sport is mentioned on the last day of 

 January, after meeting at Bitchfield. " The first 

 fox was found at Irnham, running nearly to 



