256 THE WARWICKSHIEE HUNT. [1893 



' Historieus ' ! — R. E.] Mr. Blytlie welcomed all comers to his generous 

 hospitality, aud to that gentleman we are indebted for the good fox sub- 

 sequently found at Debdale. The late bountiful rains have softened the 

 ground, aud also hardened our hearts, as is evidenced by the degree of 

 inspiration developed in the day's sport ; the bright sunshine jtlirew a golden 

 halo around the animated scene when hounds and horses moved on, aud 

 showed u]} the panoply of wealth aud fashion grateful to the eye in these 

 bad times. [Steady, old man, you havn't been at the cherry brandy, surely ! 

 — R. E.] The tall spinneys yielded no response to the call, so we 

 trotted on to Debdale, where the noble master carefully drew the lower 

 part of the wood, and then the gorse. After some slight delay hounds 

 proclaimed a find, and a fox was viewed crossing the ride and on 

 through the wood northwards. He slipped away along the Vale, then 

 turned by the left to Birdingljui-y Hall, paying our worthy host and 

 good preserver the compliment of crossing the place of meeting, and the 

 spinneys doubtless familiar. The hounds were on his track instantly, and 

 their cheery voices rang out merry music as he crossed the undulating fields. 

 Though the scent was indifferent on the plough, yet, by the close attention of 

 the huntsman, and by making up the pace on the grass, a good hunting run 

 was obtained. Two empty saddles, the result of cutting in unfairly at a 

 fence, caused the two sportsmen to lose the rvm. In fact, I passed one 

 coming home in the dark, and he said he walked after the good brown mare 

 to D unchurch station, then back to Frankton, before he found her, and 

 arrived at Ladliroke ten minutes too late for the run of the day. I gave him 

 the Irish consolation [' Historieus,' this was unworthy of your well-known 

 kindness of heart. — R. E.] that he might just as well have been there ten 

 years as ten mimites too late. Then we got on the grass, but were almost 

 immediately confronted with the swollen Leam. There were two possibilities 

 of crossing — one by a brick footbridge, one side of which had fallen in, 

 leaving one side unprotected, scarce 3ft. wide, with a bad approach ; 

 the other alternative he'mg a ford some himdred yards below. Three 

 sportsmen got through the ford all right ; another impetuous animal 

 followed, but failing to keep to the liiddeu path, started on a Captain Boyton 

 expedition, and a dissolution of partnership resulted. How cold that batli 

 must have felt ! I hope the good sportsman sampled the cherry brandy at 

 Birdingbury Hall, at the fixture, and further that he is none the worse for his 

 immersion. I, with the majority, trusted the bridge even with its bad and 

 dangerous approach ; it wanted some nerve to crawl over this mantraiJ. 

 I hope the worthy proprietor will have it repaired before I have the 

 questionable pleasure of testing its strength again. We galloped on sharply 

 through Frankton village, where another loose chesnut horse was indulging 

 in some vagaries of its owu sweet will. We ran on by Bourton Hall to 

 Lester's Piece, and finally hounds had to give up the then scentless search 

 near Kite's Hardwick. Then we had a long trot to Ladbroke Gorse. That 

 historical covert was true to its best traditions. Scarce had the hounds 

 whimpered in the thicket when out shot a bold specimen at the left-hand 

 corner; but the other, that went more to the right hand, was the one 

 the remorseless ladies fixed their fates upon. [Lord Willoughby said 

 that the bitches came out to his horn, tumbling one over the other, as 

 if you had kicked or thrown them out, aud he knew at once there was 

 a scent. — R. E.] The fox they were after slid down the long spinney 



