A CHEISTMAS WEEK m HAMPSHIRE 59 



woodlands, where an awkward turn or two threw out 

 the bulk of the field. The second half-hour was a 

 good deal slower, but hounds stuck to their fox well, 

 and finally pulled him down near the Round House, 

 exactly one hour after the find. 



It was not lono; before we found ao-ain in these 

 woodlands, but the line hounds picked up was evi- 

 dently that of a fox who had been disturbed by them 

 when runnino' their first. He was too far ahead, and 

 we had to give it up. 



After some time we found again, at Wormley Hill 

 this time, and had a capital thirty-five minutes to 

 Broadwater, where we unfortunately changed foxes, 

 so I went home. 



Next day, the 27th, the Ripley and Knaphill 

 Harriers were at Rickford Mill. By the way, this is 

 perhaps rather Surrey than Hants, but it is all on the 

 border. Mr Dubourg had a deer for us — and one of 

 the right sort. Hounds went away a cracker for 

 Guildford. Right through the railway station they 

 ran and down the river Wey — we clattering through 

 the streets to the delio'ht of the inhabitants of the 

 pretty old town. I recollect I got down to the river 

 bank by negotiating one of the most awkward ob- 

 stacles I ever jumped — a flight of rails built across 

 a low railway arch. Fortunately, I was riding about 

 the best timber jumper I ever owned, and she popped 

 through without banging my head against the top of 

 the arch. 



There was the deer — at soil in the flooded Wey, 

 the hounds baying on the bank. However, presently 

 he was obliging enough to break his bay, for it would 

 have been impossible to reach him, and on he went by 

 Shalford Church, and lay up in a little wood beyond. 



