54 THE WARWTCKSHIEE HUNT. [I88O 



If they're close on his brush 'ere he reaches the flood, 

 If their hackles are up, if they're running for blood — ■ 

 Then I'll ride all I know, though the nags shake their docks, 

 For I should like the brush of that game Grafton Fox. 



Harry L. 



This poem refers to a fox they several times found at 

 Grrafton, who always crossed the Avon between Binton and 

 Luddington. 



One of the times they crossed the river Will Shepherd, 

 the first whip, was kicked off in the middle of the 

 swollen ford and was nearly drowned. Lord Willoughb}' 

 said he thought Jack Boore would never have stopped 

 laughing. — W. E. V. 



November 29th, Burton Toll Gate. — Found at Biu-ton Old Covert, rau 

 down to Feuny Comptou Village, turned short to the right, i-au, leaving 

 Faruljorougli on the right, over Warmingtou Hill, sunk the Yale on the 

 other side, and ran straight for Wroxton Village, shortly before reaching 

 which there were two lines ; turned to the right when within one field of 

 the village, and ran towards Shutford, leaving Claydon Hill on the right, 

 kept on towards Wiggiugtou Heath, on nearing which the pack swung to the 

 right, and went as if they were going to Sibford, and left Swalcliii'e on the 

 right. The fox was now close before the hounds, but was headed in the 

 Banbury and Shipston road, and the first real check occiirred. On hitting 

 the line off, we rau by Swalcliffe Common, and marked the fox to ground in a 

 big drain that empties into tlie brook Ijetweeu tlie Common and Traitor's 

 Ford. Twelve miles from point to point; sixteen or seventeen as hounds 

 ran. Two liours and twelve minutes, with only one real check. Rode 

 Black Prince and Confidence. 



December 4<th, Dorsington. — Foimd in a stubble field near Pebworth, raced 

 the fox for thirty minutes, in view nearly all the time, a ring by Honeyboume 

 Station, and ran clean into him in the open, close to where we found. Found 

 a second fox at Crimscote Downs, rau him for fifty minutes in a wide ring 

 through Preston Bushes, and as if for Gaily Oak ; but he turned to the right, 

 and Avas killed in a small rabbit spout in the middle of Crimscote Downs. 

 The best scenting day I ever saw. There was not a vestige of a check in 

 either run. The pack never gave either fox the least chance, and made every 

 turn as quick as lightning. Rode Confidence and Brownie. 



December 7th, Wolford Village, — Found at Wolford Wood, got away 

 towards Dunsden, ran through that and on to Aston Hales, where scent got 

 bad owing to our changing- on to a stale line. Went back to the wood, got up 

 to one fox, and rau liim hard round the wood for some time, and to ground in 

 Leamington Co^jpice in view of the pack ; bolted, and killed. Found at 

 Golden Cross Gorse, and ran towards Todenham, but turned to the left, and 

 ran by Shipston Cemetery, over the Stour, and up Brailes Hill, to ground 

 after a very pretty thirty minutes over grass. Fine, and hot day. Rode 

 Bona and Bandboy. 



