58 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



second season. Hounds met at Kelvedon Park, and 

 were thrown into cover at ten o'clock, " but not finding, 

 they left the Park, and went to Puckler's Wood, where, 

 after chopping a cub in covert, they unkennelled an old 

 fox, which they ran for an hour and three-quarters, and 

 was killed. But the death was rather remarkable. The 

 fox being hard pressed was killed in endeavouring to cross 

 Ongar river, when two gentlemen, who were riding for 

 the brush, immediately left their horses, and plunged 

 into the river, where, strugorlino- together a considerable 

 time for the brush, with the whole pack about them, 

 tearing the fox, one at length succeeded in cutting it off, 

 and the fox immediately sunk. The Major being a little 

 vexed that the hounds should be deprived of their prey, 

 one of the gentlemen who had been in the water, plunged 

 in again and succeeded in getting the fox from the 

 bottom, and it was given to the hounds. Such desperate 

 riding has seldom before been witnessed in Essex." 



We have already noticed Cook's tribute to the 

 Roothings. His affection extended also to the " north 

 country," of which he writes : — 



" During the time I hunted Essex, we had our 

 Dunmow meetings, which, I assure you, enlivened us not 

 a little ; and whilst I devoted myself to that part of the 



