268 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



ing covert, too, is Cottam Thorns, marked on the 

 map as the Three Shire Bush, because the three 

 shires of Nottingham, Leicester, and Lincoln meet 

 there. Half a century ago the spot was the scene 

 of many a prize-fight, and the shire drain hard by 

 is a deep sepulchral trench dug by the ancients to 

 map out the border of the two counties. The 

 custodian, too, of the neighbouring Normanton 

 Coverts was quite a character, Mrs. Bend, the wife of 

 the earth-stopper, who also combined rat-catching 

 as a profession. This good lady was a keen 

 follower of the chase, driving about in a pony-cart, 

 delighting to give a shrill view halloa when she 

 viewed a fox away. Gillard took the opportunity 

 to blood her with the brush one day when up at 

 the finish. " I could not make her face much 

 prettier, for she carried a good colour," Frank 

 gallantly remarked. 



Two good days' sport preceded the stop that 

 came for frost in February. The first of these was 

 on Wednesday, 14th, after assembling at Croxton 

 Park. A fox set going from Coston Covert headed 

 for Wymondham over a grand line of country, and 

 those nearest to hounds were Mr. V. Hemery, the 

 Duke of Marlborough, Captain Standish, Mr. A. 

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

 F. Crawley, the two latter registering heavy falls 

 during the run. With a good holding scent 

 hounds raced their fox to Stapleford, where he was 

 hallooed by navvies who turned him. A forward 

 cast by Garthorpe recovered the line across to 

 Freeby Wood, and getting on better terms again, 



