174 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



casters, and then turned sharp back, and as Bailey was 

 casting forward towards Hatfield Heath, he was seen by 

 some labourers crawling up the stubble beyond Lancasters, 

 pointing back to the Woods, and we lost him. Besides 

 these incidents we had several really good hunting runs 

 this season, Bailey and hounds distinguishing themselves 

 thoroughly ; then, on March 12th, the annual meeting took 

 place, and 1 was again chosen master with a subscription 

 of ^2,000." 



This meeting was followed by a remarkable run of 

 which the late Mr. R. C. Ball gives the following account 

 in his diary : — 



" 1881. March 12th, Saturday. Harlow. Annual 

 Meeting. Drew Parndon Wood. Found at once and ran 

 towards Nettleswell. Bore to the left through Deer Park 

 and then in a large ring towards Cheshunt. Back through 

 Galley Hills and Deer Park, on to Nazing Common and 

 so back to Parndon Wood, through this, out at the same place 

 as before, and across a few fields to the back of Mr. 

 Todhunter's, where he went to ground. Dug him out and 

 killed in a few yards. This was a clinking run of one hour 

 forty-five minutes, with no check of more than three minutes. 

 Owing to the quick find only about seven got away with the 

 hounds, and we had it all to ourselves. I got the brush. 

 Boycott carried me capitally." 



