AN EARLY START. I 73 



instead of Clarke in the stables I appointed the old hunts- 

 man. Dobson, to superintend the horses, and continue the 

 the clerical work he had done for us during- the past year, 

 Crawley of course retaining- his post as Bailey's second 

 horseman. 



" 1 880- 1. The cubduuuing season of 1 880-1 began 

 on September 7th, at 4.30 in the morning at Latton 

 and Harlow Park, an hour which frightened some, but 

 which I had made up my mind was necessary if any work 

 for the young hounds was to be obtained, and I always 

 found that it answered : on that particular morning the 

 entry did well. This year, we had two runs with foxes, 

 who had to be dislodged from the ivy tree at Down Hall, 

 and were 50 feet above our heads when discovered. 



" One day from W'itney Wood we took a fox away to 

 Fyfield, where he got into some outbuildings, and when 

 the whip tried to get him out, he bolted up the chimney, 

 and his ears were next seen coming out of the chimney pot, 

 and his head cautiously followed, when after looking round 

 on the hounds and men in the street, he sprang out on the 

 other side of the roof aiul got down and away with the 

 pack at his brush, running by Birdhatch, then at the back 

 of Rookwood Hall straight for Man Wood : he sli|)ped 

 through the wood, crossed by the Grange, as if for Lan- 



