158 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1887 



Brook, tliroug-li Dane Knoll,* over the road, and on to the clump of beech trees 

 near Badby Wood, passed the wood and FaAvsley just on the left, and ran on at a 

 capital pace to Charwelton, where they came to the first check, and could never 

 get on his line again. This was a good run of forty-five minutes.f It is said that 

 nineteen horses charged the Braunston Brook, and fourteen got in, including 

 the master and first whip. ;J; A lot of snow in the ditches made riding bad. 



The following is an account of the afternoon run on 

 March Sth, which appeared in the Field : 



Then, the afternoon run was a delightful event — and more appreciable 

 because amenable. His lordship again drew Shuckburgh ; and from the 

 laurels behind the house dislodged another ready traveller. Nobody, 

 apparently, expected a find — this being the only portion of the Hill left 

 undrawn in the forenoon ; and nobody could possibly tell in which direction 

 hounds might be breaking. In course of time we made out they had started 

 for Flecknoe ; and they favoured us (in consideration possibly of the hard 

 treatment of the morning) by flinging back across the turnpike that we were 

 so l)lindly clattering. This bend x)ut their heads direct for Catesby ; and 

 thither they held them for the next fifteen minutes to reach the coombe of 

 Dane Hole. Over the same description of glorious turf as in the former run, 

 they travelled almost equally fast. A small brook crossed the line after about 

 five minutes — a second, none too awful from the point of measurement, but 

 very brimming with water and presently with men, immediately afterwards 

 offered itself. It is only the Catesby stream, eventually the Braunston Brook. 

 But snow water, when every furrow is splashing with it, is very enticing 

 foothold to a fat and careless hunter. Well, the air was warm now, if the 

 water was cold. The half gale of last night had moderated to a pleasant 

 breeze — and the warm Avet earth carried a rattling scent. Dane Knoll has from 

 this side an approach of two j)loughed fields ; and we are old enough to know 

 that a good March fox is not likely to hang long in so small a place, with 

 Badby Wood only a couple of miles away. So there were various half blown 

 liorses recovering their wind on the road above, during the moments between 

 the forward holloa upon the run fox and the arrival of the pack. Now the 

 latter ran on well, and within reas(ni, over the grassy hillsides to Badby Wood 

 — pointing at one time to Staverton, l)ut driven back up to the wood through 

 tJieir fox having met foot people on his way. So they struck through the 

 beech trees on the Avesterimiost pinnacle of the wood ; then at full speed 

 crossed the Fawsley estate to Charwelton. At such a time it was no source of 

 regret that gates should make the way easy over these beautiful grazing 

 grounds. Close to Chanvelton Church came the first and only real check 



* This place without doubt inherits its curious name from the old Danish conquerors 

 of England. Spelt in our boot Dane Knoll, and Dane Hole. — W. R. V. 



t The distance was ten miles from point to point, all over a beautiful grass country, 

 and only a few saw the finish of a memorable day. 



X Consolation for Quornites and other Sportsmen. — Calculation. — In 

 the course of a long day's hunting, it is 10 to 1 that a bold and good rider has no fall ; 

 80 to 1 that neither himself or his horse is hurt ; 480 to 1 that his horse and not himself 

 is hurt ; 5700 to 1 that no bone is broken ; 115,200 to 1 that the hurt is not fatal. 

 Therefore, out of 115,200 persons who go out hunting in the morning, only one is 

 supposed to end his course in that way from the effect of that day's diversion. — 

 Siwrting Annals, 1823.— H. C. N. 



