1892] GOOD THING FEOM WELSH ROAD. 221 



Here it was almost a case of the " fovomost horseman rode alone," and ho a 

 field or two behind. Thoy tnrned to the left at the back of Tew Park, down 

 to Lower Worton, through Hawk Hill, and down a very l)eaiitiful vale to 

 Barford St. John. Here only liis Lordsliip, Jack, and Sir Charles Mordaunt 

 were actually witli hounds, though Mr. FoUett kept pegging away with two 

 heavy falls to the Cr. side, and when tlie fox, who turned tlirough Barford 

 St. Michael, finally had to be given up, through darkness and a flooded river, 

 under Hempden Hill, I believe that only Lord Nortli, Mr. Milne, Mr. and 

 Mrs. North, Mr. Yerney and his friend Mr. Greene, Mr. Gladwin, Mr. 

 Gardner, and one or two more, whose names I have not, answered the roll 

 call. This was about a four-mile point — from find to finish — but I should 

 say quite nine miles as the hounds ran, and one hour and thirty- five minutes, 

 all the first part very fast. 



Lord Willoughby cle Broke's diary : 



Were .stopped hunting from January 1st ixntil the 21st. Hunted one day 

 in the snow and killed three foxes. 



January 26th, Weston House. — Found at Weston Heath. Hounds slipped 

 away at once, and fairly raced through the gardens and over Brailes Hill, and 

 we caught them on the other side of Castle Hill, where they had thrown up, 

 and we could do no more. Found again in a field near Fulready, and ran 

 hard to Eatingtou Village, where he turned back, and ran back through the 

 field in which we fomid, by Hell Brake, and to ground in a rabbit hole under 

 Brailes Hill, after a caj)ital run of an hour. Bolted and killed. 



" Eusticns Expectans " in the Field : 



Thursday, January 28th. — There was a very bad scent in the morning 

 at Shuckburgh Hill ; about 200 sportsmen out, all keen to ride, and 

 leaving not too much space for hounds to work on a bad line, one of 

 them riding over Dialist in a forty acre field. However, as Lord Willoughby 

 said, "You coiddn't kill liim with a hatchet, if you tried ever so," and 

 I saw him going home at 5.30 with his stern up, so better luck next 

 time. We had a good fox to Bimker's Hill, and a splendid country, 

 but no scent. A very long jog along the nuiddy I)ridle road to Southam 

 brought us to Welsh Road Gorse with a very diminislied following, and 

 hounds soon had plenty of elbow and nose room. 1 soon saw by the dash of 

 the hounds that a fox was in covert. He broke at the north end, but turned 

 at once over the Welsh Road as if for Ladbroke. " The Master Is never 

 going to jump tliose 4ft. Gin. rails out of the gorse ! " " Isn't he, though ? 

 Yoii bet." We were so much interested in watching this feat of horseman- 

 ship, that we forgot to go and tell him exactly where the fox had gone. 

 Hounds flashed over the line, but the staff soon had them back 

 to the horn. We sAvung to the south over the Radboiirn fields, and 

 leaving Radl)ourn Sx^inney or double on the left, took a bee line over 

 the best country in England — Leicestershire without the hills — for 

 Priors Marston. The pace quickened all the way, and when hounds 

 rose the hill beyond the canal they held a distinct advantage. Tliose who 

 kept their heads and their memories remembered that there must be a road 

 even in tliis wild district, and when the chase tended towards Priors 

 Hardwick viewed for half a mile or so their brethren on the right in more or 

 less difficulties. The fox crossed the Priors Hardwick and Priors Marston 



