224 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1892 



good fox made his point for Edge Hill, and as we passed by Burton Old Toll- 

 bar and tlie new cottages the chase took the form of a hot and galloping line ; 

 considering the number of ladies that were ont, I may call it " a line of sweet- 

 ness long drawn out." The leading sjiirits now began to show their quality. 

 Lord Willougliby is, of course, there, and Bright Star, as usxial, appears to 

 be only cantering, while the rest are racing. Mr. Oookson (on the chesnut 

 mare whicli seems to drop into every run), Mr. Crawley, and Mr. Low (on 

 Dunchurch) are speeding in the wake of the flying pack, wliile Lady Brooke 

 and Mrs. North are right in front. Oh, for a flying machine ! Oh, for the 

 wings of an eagle, that I might get to them ! Like Mr. Jorrocks, I am not 

 afraid of the pace when there is no jumping; but having made one slight 

 mistake and lost 200 yards, there is no chance of recovery. The pace is too 

 great, tlie chase too straight. As we turned short of Old Leys, by Mr. 

 Grierson's farm (])etter known as Mr. Harl)age's), we have to jump as well 

 as gallop, and two long hilly and deep grass fields do not add to our comfort. 

 Like one of Mr. Henry Kiugsley's heroes, I did not'dose my stupidity, which 

 I call my presence of mind, but, with my better half, hit the bridle road at 

 tlie little hand-gate over the bottom ; but even that did not avail to reach our 

 gallant leaders. Some, I fancy, got a nick by keeping lower down, and on 

 the hard road which leads past Old Leys to the bottom of the hill. Wlien I 

 got to where Miller's Gorse was I heard Lord Willoughby's horn already 

 blowing out for Radway. I waited for a moment for my little mare 

 to get her wind, and then sped down the hill again past the clump 

 where King Charles halted his carriage on the battle day, to cut off 

 hounds in the big field below the road. Only five or six with them, 

 including the two ladies before mentioned. Across the Banbury Road and 

 the little brook to Old Leys, where many joined in, we went on at a slower 

 pace to Marlborough, where came the first real cheek. We then turned down 

 the Vale for Owlington, but at last he ran us out of scent, or went to ground 

 in a drain on the south side of Owlington Farm, near the brook and the 

 Banljury Road. Mutiial congratulations followed ; but hounds were found to 

 bo short, eleven and a half cou.ples, and as we looked ai'ound we missed many 

 familiar faces. Were they all " dyked ? " Had they all been choked off by 

 the pace, or were they left at Edge Hill P Mr. Knott, jim., brought a 

 solution. He had just seen Mr. Lea,* who said he had been with a hu.nt in the 

 Ratley Valley (and gone well, I'll be bound) with tlie rest of the pack, till 

 liis career liad been brought to a close by an unlucky immersion. We went 

 back to Radway Grange, and there a happy sight presented itself. We not 

 only found our absent friends, but they liad got the hounds with them shut up 

 in a stable, aiul in an incredibly short space of time the old courtyard filled 

 up with men and horses, and the most old-fashioned, or new-fashioned, hospi- 

 tality was produced. " Pass up to the front," was all the gallant captain f 

 said, an order most promptly and willingly obeyed. 



We found that some of the leading hounds had gone over the road at the 

 top of tlie hill, and had run the Ratley Vale like smoke, nearly to Hornton, 

 and tlien, turning to the left past Wliite's Bushes, to ground at Page's. 

 Captain Allfrey was liuntsmau, and he liad two or three most efiicient aids in 

 Major Little, Mr. Crawley, and Mr. Whitworth. Sir Charles Mordaimt and 

 Mr. Cassel, and about twelve more were in this division, while Miss Anna 



* Mr. J. W. Lea, of Tlielesfoid, is a capital rider, aud makts a young horse well. 

 t Captain Osborne. 



