COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 243 



(Mr. H. T.) was much downcast in consequence. 

 Brick Hill cover (Thorpe), blank. Found in Thorpe 

 gorse. A single hound spoke to the line. First 

 whip, Ned Farmer, stopped it, but two more escaped 

 and would not be stopped. Bevan then started and 

 holloaed, and proceeded to hunt with those three 

 hounds regardless of the rest of the pack, which were 

 eventually rushed on to where the three were. My 

 mare became wildly excited, and tore along with me 

 with her head in the air bang into a blind ditch, and 

 of course down we both came. I jumped up immedi- 

 ately and never let go the reins and proceeded to 

 scramble on by a gate, simply plastered with mud 

 and a horrible dirty sight. Thus my debut in the 

 Atherstone country ! A certain Mr. Wilkinson 

 kindly came to my rescue. He is blind of an eye 

 and rides quite beautifully, and was ever after known 

 as my deliverer. He was always willing and good 

 about helpmg one in difficulties. They of course 

 lost their fox, and we all went to Thorpe and were 

 fed on mutton pies and brown sherry by the Inges. 

 I was introduced to them and to Maud Russell. I 

 here borrowed a real and double bridle and the mare 

 went better, but still pulled fearfully, and I was not 

 coachman at all that day. We drew Amington 

 (Fisher's) blank, then Newton gorse, where we found 

 scent doubtful ; only succeeded in running a ring 

 back into the gorse and then jogged home, having 

 had a howler and thoroughly rotten day. Bevan, 

 huntsman ; Ned Farmer whipping-in to him. Fred 



Claydon bound up in straps, having strained himself 



16 * 



