1892] ANOTHER GOOD FRIDAY. 227 



it to tlio frout ouco more. For mc it was huuting made oasy for oiico, and 

 tho same for all tlie field, except, perhaps, for the huutsiuau and his staff. A 

 luxurious drive to tho meet in tlie resuscitated Avagg-onette, rescued from the 

 Olympic dust of the SaAvstidge Road, a safe and brilliant convoyauco there 

 awaiting me, a pretty find, a good steady pace, Avith plenty of time to pick 

 out the best places in the fences ; a first rate (nearly ten mile) point ; one 

 hour and thirty-six minutes, tAvelve or thirteen as the hounds ran — just long 

 enough, and not too long ; a good finish, and no falls, and what can the heart 

 wish for more ? 



The meet at SAvalcliffe on Friday, March 18 (a birthday, so 1 took the 

 present of a hunt), was, as usual, a A^ery picturesque one ; the lioimds and staff 

 gathered on tho other side of the little lake, and Colonel and Mrs. Norris on 

 this side, giAdng a hearty Avelcome to all. The only person I missed AA'as the 

 dear old squire. 



The first fox, probably a A'ixen, which left the Stonepits at Wiggington 

 Heath, was spared. There were two more in this beautiful thick and 

 sheltered covert. We got away with the second, and ran sloAvly to SAvalclift'e 

 Common ; here the scent on the ploiigh seemed Aveak, but Lord Willoughby 

 was A^ery patient, and evidently had a good idea of the run of his fox. 

 We got helped, too, by several agricultui-ists, always anxious as they are 

 in these parts, and in all Warwickshire, too, to give a helxiing hand. 

 We Avent doAvn the valley by the mill, and then turned up to the right 

 over Mr. Pettipher's farm, close to where he breeds those beautiful 

 white Dorkings, to the left of Sibford Ferris. On the grass the pace 

 got better, and Ave ran very prettily up the valley as if for EpAvell Planta- 

 tion ; but turned to the left over the hill for Sibford Small Plantation. 

 Just here three hounds were ahead, and the huntsman was the other side of 

 the bottom ; but Jem got forward to them, and just as we galloped full speed 

 under the plantation, we saw a fox go over the Bauliury and Brailes road to 

 the left. Lord Willoughby, Avho had got to his hounds without a moment's 

 hesitation, rattled after him, and, hitting it off the other side of the road near 

 Mr. Sheldon's buildings, they flew doAvn into. the Winderton valley. This 

 Avas the prettiest part of tho run, for they kept on at a good pace, and passing 

 right over those nasty holes Avhere Ave often go to ground, hounds rather 

 beating the horses, ran right across the Vale to the Castle Hill at Brailes. 

 Mr. Cassel fell at the first fence, being SAvept off by a grower, Init, holding 

 the reins, was soon up and in his usual place. We jumped a nasty little 

 deep ditch OA^er a foot plank near Brailes, and then unanimously declined a 

 rather nasty looking neAV cut stake-aud-bouud. I suppose tho thoughts of a 

 good many ran in the same groove as my OAvn : " I am getting on sAviminiugly 

 and thoroughly enjoying myself; Avhy not let Avell alone?" " Quieta non 

 movero " is sometimes a good motto. At Castle Hill, or between there and 

 Spencer's Gorse, Ave had a bit of check in the I'oad ; but his lordship hit it 

 off to the left, and, passing through an orchard at Ux)per Brailes, into and 

 out of Avhich Mr. Miller jumped, avo kept to the left, going well as if for 

 Brailes Hill ; but shot again to the right and into the Honington and 

 Brailes Valley. Here came, on the plough, rather a serious check — an hour 

 and thirteen minutes by the official timekeeper, avIio, by the Avay, has been 

 summoned to serve on a jury. Too bad ! — he ought to be exempt. Parliament 

 should look to this. A swinging forward cast on to the grass hit it off about 

 two fields to the left of St. Denys Farm, and the pace again grew merry and 



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