1S84] THE GREAT RUN. 109 



him to Mr. Walter Marshall, of Hambleton, near Oakham, 

 who rode him witli <>Teat success at Market Harborough, 

 and afterwards with the Cottesmore for several years, and 

 then he gave him to me. No stouter, bolder hunter ever 

 looked through a bridle, though when I had him his best 

 day was just a little passed. I got on him at Lighthorne 

 just at two o'clock, and trotted away towards Bowshot. 

 When I got near to the Ash, or Dog Kennel Coppice at 

 Compton, I saw them going along the other valley to draw 

 Pool Fields. My run really started from there, for T never 

 loosed bridle again till Chance stood still with me in Old 

 Sitch Field at Chesterton an hour and ten minutes after- 

 wards. When I got to Pool Fields, galloping as hard 

 as I could, the field were just disappearing at the 

 other end of Chadshunt big field. My okl horse's 

 turn of speed served me w^ell, for I gradually got up, and 

 at Itchington Holt I got sight of the hounds. They 

 skirted the Holt on the went side, this gallant fox not 

 having entered it,''" and struck across the Vale for Bawcutt's, 

 which they just passed, leaving it on the left, and we 

 crossed the Gaydon Boad, and, as hounds swung to the 

 left, we had to jump the Chadshunt Brook. I charged 

 the first eligible place I saw, and had my nose nearly cut 

 off for my pains. Across the East and West Junction 

 Bailway we sped wdth undiminished speed, and his point 

 now seemed Edge Hill; but beyond Marlborough, where 

 we jumped a high flight of rails out of a big field, he 

 turned a bit t(j the right at Old Leys, as if he meant 

 Kineton Holt. Short of the Banbury Boad he kept right- 

 handed again, and, leaving Owlingt^n just on the right, 

 recrossed the railway. As we came up the big grass field 

 to the Kineton and Gaydon I'oad, still at best pace, I 

 turned round in my saddle to see how Lord Willoughby's 



* Lord Willougliby, in his Badminton aTticle, Nov 1895, says tl^at they went inti 

 the Holt, and tli.it he saw :)nd heard Ravager throwing his tongue as they c ime out. 

 It is curious that both Sir Charles and myself were nearly certnin that the main body 

 at least never went in. I suppose the explaKa*"ion is that the fox lan jmt iiside the 

 covert, or ju-it down by the hedge, and then went th:-ough the b.'ake or spinney at the 

 bottom.— W. E. Y. 



