134 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1885 



Grazebrook and Hodgson, iu the centre. Cai^taiu Allfrey and Mr. Boucli 

 succeeded Lord Willoughby. Not fifty yard.s to tlie next fence, stern and 

 unyielding, but as the van rose in the air a glimpse was caught of hounds 

 shaking the water from their backs not another fifty yards ahead. The 

 grey plunged in and out, and Lord Willougliby followed the example. 

 Messrs. Bouch and Gi-azel)rook faced it on the left, to get over with falls, 

 whereas Mr. Hodgson landed with feet to spare. The next fence saw two 

 refusals, leaving Captain Allfrey half a field in front of Mr. Grazebrook, with 

 Mr. Hodgson lying next. So they journeyed over the slope to catch up the 

 ritlemau as he walked his horse, after dismounting, through the little gate, 

 and to see another check within a few yards of Oxhill Gorse. 



Another five minutes were lost here before a holloa told that the fox had 

 gone through. Up to the Kirby Farm the pace was slower than it had been. 

 Reynard ran round the house, and, before starting towards Compton Wyniates, 

 succeeded in alluring the majority of the field on the wrong side of the brook. 

 They had no pleasant task to extricate themselves. A sheepdog evidently 

 changed this good fox's intention, and, apparently regretful for his misconduct, 

 joined the pack in their endeavours to pick up the course pursued. But his 

 reformation was not appreciated, and he may thank his stars that he got off 

 without the application of the whip thong which misapplied energy had fully 

 resei'ved for him. We were in fiUl Bwing again at the lane below Idlicote 

 House. The gallant soldier bored us a way onward, and under his guidance 

 the coverts were passed on the right, and in another ten minutes we were over 

 the turnpike, and at the foot of Brailes Hill. Again we were indebted to the 

 same individual, and again we followed gaily. But the hounds were quitting 

 horses now. and they disappeared over the snowclad simimit as we dismounted 

 to crawl up a slope as steep as a house. How the men roared ; most of them 

 were broken winded ! A learned Q.C., Avho iu a court of law can speak for a 

 day or two. hadn't enough ])reath to climb twenty yards, and we left him, 

 but not alone, iu his glory. The thing was to catch hold of your horse's tail 

 and let him pidl you up, but unfortunately the moment you dropped the 

 bridle he turned his head down hill. Sliding and slipping, the descent was 

 made into the valley by the village of Sutton. The inhabitants were merry. 

 Seen hoimds ? " Why. they be at Weston by now." Such a tone of derision, 

 too ! Then the gauntlet had again to be run through Cherriugton. Of course 

 we were now keeping to the road, and from all accoimts the pack must have 

 run by its side. Anyhow, they were not sighted until they were discovered 

 iu Weston Park, where the fox was lost. This was a tame ending to so 

 (excellent a gallop, but Brailes Hill accounted for it. Altogether the time 

 occupied was about two hours. The Leamington division had twenty-two 

 miles home, and I never saw so many returning after such a long and 

 severe nui. 



Lord Willoughby de Broke 's diary : 



January 19th, Charlecote Park. — Found at Hampton Wood, got away 

 close to the fox, who crossed the river directly. We galloped round by 

 Sherborne and Barford, and nicked the hounds by Watchbury Hill. They 

 went on into Warwick Park, over the river again by the bridge, across the 

 Park, again over the river, and went away by the Asps across to Oakley 

 Wood, through that, and by Heathcote Farm, nearly to Fir Tree Hill ; turue<l 

 to the riglit. and ran very fast to Watchbury Hill, where the fox was all 



