130 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1884 



very perfimctory luaiiuer. Neither the roads nor the fiekls exliibitecl any 

 effect from this treatment. About ten it ceased altogether, and by that time 

 Soiitliam was reached on the way to Shiickburgh. Here we came into winter. 

 The hills had evidently canght the storm, for right away past Badby the 

 roads could be tracked like a winding sheet, and every knoll and slope bore its 

 white burden. For all that we Avent into it, and moreover Avorked a fox to 

 death in less than an hour. "Whether poor Repiard had been dining some- 

 what sumptuoiisly, Avhether his feet balled, or whether the craft and quickness 

 of the huntsman was too much for him. nevertheless it remains a mystery how 

 it happened that he lost his brush without either being pressed or the struggle 

 unduly prolonged. These suppositious, however, must not be allowed to 

 interfere with the undoubted ability which so imdeniably contributed to bring 

 about the consummation of a fox being pulled down in the open within a 

 hop, skip, and a jump of the village of Priors Marstou. Hounds could run 

 whenever they came to a clear field, but on ground covered Avitli snow, of 

 which there was the larger portion, they could do nothing. Lord Willoughby 

 did not hesitate to throw them forward over this with rapidity. Nothing 

 succeeds like success, and it would be \ingracious in any way to detract from 

 the performance. Was it not a fox handsomely accounted for ? Unfoi-tuuately, 

 this nui Avas to take its toll upon the person of one of the hardest riders and 

 most liberal and ardent supporters which the Warwickshire numbers among 

 its members. The pack, after leaAnng Shuckburgh Hill, flcAV along over the 

 fields in the valley. Sir Charles Mordauut was on his favourite grey horse, 

 and Avas sending it along with all the confidence Avhich a good mount 

 inspires and unshaken nerves afford. A ditch and a fence in that country are 

 not to be trifled AA-ith. but AA-hen another ditch is added, the obstacle calls for 

 the most serious efforts to be made. A hmiter must go boldly and freely at 

 them, and chance nothing. As luck Avould liaA^e it, the spot chosen in the 

 obstruction had been trampled on the landing side hj cattle, to the production 

 of a sensational leap, or a certain catastrophe. The grey perhaps cleared 

 everything it could see, and something to spare, but it Avas not enoiigh, and 

 the fall AA'hich ensued In-oke Sir Charles's collar bone — an accident nothing 

 very serious in itself, but more in the A^exation and irritation caused by a 

 total abstinence in the sport which is his greatest ijleasure. 



If this gallop liad not entirely eradicated all sense of chilliness from the 

 frame, it de]>arted under the Avarm greeting Avith Avhich the inhabitants of the 

 little Arillage welcomed us no less than Christmas, and at Ladbroke we had 

 left the region of snow behind. Pity it was the fox found here should have 

 at once struck out for the plough, for over the pasture through Niui's Bushes 

 the pace was excellent. Hence up to Ufton Tillage is all arable, yet the pack 

 ran the whole distance in thirty-three minutes, to lose all scent by the raihvay 

 at Harbury Village. The brook A\'as crossed not far from the scene of the 

 gallant exploits in the great run, but to-day all on the AA^rong side had time to 

 go round. Coming on to Whitnash Bushes the covert undoubtedly held more 

 than one fox. Hounds never had a better start. They and their prey crossed 

 the Fosse Road almost together. There was a promise of a gallop. They 

 coursed him over the plough, and must have forced him on to the grass, when 

 a drain presented itself. Truly out of the frying-pan into the fire. Home, 

 geUitlemen, after a good day, considering the AA-eather? And these same 

 elements brought ample satisfaction to the observant mind. They had tlie 

 effect of taking aAA'ay a great deal of jjaint. leaA'ing exposed to A'iew the 



