AUTUMN DAYS 



the hounds and the Duke's party trotted on from 

 thence. Amonsf those who came from Badminton 

 was George Fordham, who, unHke Custance, was 

 not nearly so good across country as on the flat. 

 Lord Worcester was hunting the hounds, and rode 

 the famous Beckford, a flea-bitten grey. This horse 

 must have been an animal of wonderful courage, as 

 he did all the work of a huntsman's horse, and only 

 stopped at last near Kempsford shortly before the 

 end. Heber Long was first whipper-in. Lord 

 Worcester had a pack of seventeen and a half 

 couples of the big dog pack. In their veins were 

 all the great hunting strains of Badminton, Belvoir, 

 Bramham Moor, Brocklesby, Fitzwilliam and Blank- 

 ney ; of Justice and Dorimant, Potentate (Belvoir), 

 Guider, Lumen, and above all of Badminton Rufus. 

 Writing of the last hound. Lord Henry Bentinck 

 says, " he was of extraordinary sagacity, but had 

 plenty of tongue." 



There was a long draw, nor was it till they 

 reached the east end of the wood that hounds 

 found their fox. Comparatively few people heard 

 the whistle. The wind had chopped round to the 

 south-west, and was blowing fresh. Lord Worcester 

 and Heber Long with a few followers only got 

 away. Hounds settled down to run, but before 

 they reached Brinkworth brook the fox was headed 

 and swung round again to the wood. A bold 

 fox like this one always makes his point if 

 he possibly can, and entering the wood on the 



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