346 REMINISCENCES OF 



Arthingworth, and crossed the rail. The field was 

 full of sheep, and the shepherd told me the fox had 

 gone into Langborough. I carried them on, and 

 just as I got to the gate he was holloaed away on 

 the other side. I cut down the middle ride and got 

 on the line, crossed the Harborough road, and we 

 ran fast on to Shipley Spinney. Hounds just crossed 

 and went right up the hill towards Clipstone, and 

 then it began in earnest. Dick went round the 

 Tallyho end of the spinney (Tallyho covert lies to the 

 west of Shipley Spinney), and viewed another fox, 

 and blew his horn, which distracted some of the field 

 and put them out of it. Two fields further on there 

 was a stiff stile and footboard, which lots of fellows 

 tumbled over. I had a shy at the bullfinch up hill, 

 high and strong, and it turned "Valeria" over. I 

 lost a spur, which I put in my pocket, picked up the 

 pieces and set sail, but I lost half a field, which I 

 could not regain. Two fields on another stile, and 

 lots of grief ; Robertson ^ and another down, blocked 

 the way. The field then divided into two lots, the 

 right-hand lot well with the hounds — Custance, 

 Tom, Charlie White, Fraser, Topham, and perhaps 

 twenty more ; the left-hand lot — myself. Mills, De la 

 Cour, Boyd, etc. — about a field and a half behind the 

 hounds. Hounds ran on without a pause past the 

 spinney between Oxendon and Clipstone, leaving 

 Oxendon village to the right, into the F'arndon and 

 Oxendon road. I came into the road opposite Mr. 

 Kirkman's house. They checked here, and I lifted 



^ Brother of Captain Robertson, Royal Dragoons. 



