1878] SHUCKBURGH HILL. 21 



He casts them : "twas " Ranger boy " spoke to the scent, 

 Bad tempered old Larkspur has given assent ; 

 Tis a pound to a crown up the furrow he w^ent. 

 See Rainbow and Ruler have flown to the spot ; 

 And a sheet or a blanket would cover the lot. 

 There's a holloa on forward ; and hot as a grill 

 Is the pace once again from old Shuckburgh Hill. 



Now who has the best of this terrible burst? 



Which, as Nimrod once said, is " as bad as the first ;" 



The Captain is close alongside of the pack, 



The Empress is riding three lengths in his track ; 



Unwearied, luidaunted she'll follow — until 



The chase is all over from Shuckburgh Hill. 



A Groodman is jjlaced in the front as before ; 



While Muntz, on brown Lightheart, has fencing galore. 



A. Temj^est sweejjs on with both fury and speed. 



See Curteis * is making bold bids for the lead. 



While the Master, beginning to count on a kill, 



Is reckoning the distance from Shuckburgh Hill. 



The Rector — with Ruby all covered with foam — 



Rides faster and farther from jjarish and home. 



Brave Jenkinsf — be sure — in the front rank is found ; 



And many a thruster is " bolch " on the ground. 



But the sportsman must fear neither distance nor spill ; 



Who will ride wath our hounds, fro]n old Shuckburgh Hill. 



Across the old Rugby and Daventry road, 



The circling crows the poor traveller showed ; 



But, though viewed, the brave fox has the best of the race, 



And we lose him, at last, near Welton's fair place. 



If we only but could have left off with a kill, 



What a day 'twould have been from old Shuckburgh Hill. 



You may write up the Belvoir, the Cottesmore, the Quorn ! 



Of Ranksboro' sing : of Tom Firr and his hoi-n ; 



With the Vale of Red Horse I shall satisfied Ije, 



And the blood of old Saffron and Clasher for me ! 



Come, I'll give you a toast ; which shall make your hearts thrill, 



As you think of the runs from old Shuckburgh Hill. 



* Captain (now Colonel) Curteis, Assistant Adjutant-General, Poona, India; a very 

 bold rider to hounds. 



t Mr. W. H. P. Jenkins, of Upton House (" Mr. Morton.") 



