RUN PROM BISHOP'S GORSE. 223 



divided, four and a half couples crossed the Baubury Road near tlie Rouud 

 Tower, and ran down the Vale, throngli White's Bushes and Pag-o's Gorse, to 

 ground in Warniington Wood ; the rest ran out at the bottom, and lost 

 at Owliugton, Time up to Knoll End, forty minutes. Joined forces, and 

 went to Watts's Gorse, found directly, and ran as if for Radway ; kejit 

 swinging right-handed all the time, and ran at a great pace over Herd Hill, 

 and on to the New Covert at Pillerton, turned short to the left, and ran 

 through the Old Covert, and lost just beyond. 



February 26th, The Kennels. — Found at Kineton Holt, ran through 

 Watts's Gorse and by the Oaks, over the Vale, leaving Tysoe on the left, 

 nearly to Oxliill Village, and back over Herd Hill, and through the Oaks and 

 Watts's Gorse and back to the Holt, where he was killed after a capital ring 

 of one hour. Found again at Bawcutt's Covert, ran by Chadshunt, and nearly 

 to Compton, turned to the left and went back, leaving Kineton to the right, 

 by Bawcutt's Covert, and up the Burton Hills, where the hounds were stopped 

 after a very good run of two hours. All the horses beat. 



" Rusticus Expectans " in the Fie/d : 



I do not propose to say much of Monday, February 22nd, Binton Bridges ; 

 or of Tuesday, February 23rd, Lower Pillerton. Tliere were plenty of foxes, 

 and on Tuesday they were in our best Oxhiil country ; but scent was very 

 deficient, and sport in consequence moderate. TJie rain of Wednesday 

 brought a change, which, alas ! has been very transient, for to-day, Monday, 

 February 29th, with the cold snow clouds in the air, the necessary article has 

 been again conspicuous by its absence. Thursday and Friday, however, 

 February 25th and 26th, made the week, if not the mouth ; they require a 

 better and an abler chronicler than myself, and I wish someone who could 

 write with a more currente culamo could take the task in hand. In default 

 of a better scribe I must do what I can, and if there are deficiencies and 

 inaccm-acies in my account, present friends please pardon ; and absent ones, 

 for whom I chiefly write, please take the will for the deed. 



On with the dance ! let joy be unconfined ; 

 No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet. 

 To chase the glowing hours with flying feet. 



Yes ; but remember that though the hounds meet at Compton Verney the 

 iiext day, and that even though you come from Leamington, you have no right 

 to assume that wo shall certainly draw Bisliojj's Gorse. Supjiose we had 

 found at Poolfield Osiers, which was very likely, whore would you have been p 

 It is always best and safest to come to the meet. Bishop's Gorse, of course, 

 provided, and the right sort, too. He was away in a moment, and helter- 

 skelter down the Sawstidge Road we went, to the tune of the Hunting Horn 

 Gallop ; i\\e pas-de-quatre was nothing to it. Our leaders, fortunately, knew 

 how to fling the gates, so merrily we fled along till they turned to the left at 

 the Heath Farm, and more serious Inisiness commenced. A momentary 

 pause, and they are on over the Banlmry Road, and by the Hit or Miss 

 Coppice into Itchington Holt. Not a moment's pause tliere, as we floundered 

 tlu'ough the central ride and down to the right. I was not going to l)e left 

 behind this time, with that " dread silence " I spoke of as my only companion, 

 so kept Lord Willough])y well in sight. Across the Harbury Road and the 

 grass inclosures towards Bawcutts, the dog pack streamed along ; no chance 

 of a pull, but best pace all the way. Leaving Bawcutts just on the left, our 



