VISCOUNT GALWAY'S HOUNDS. 35 



In dash the hounds and in they splash, and as they stem the 



tide, 

 They throw their tongues and hit the line upon the other side ; 

 And now at Haxey station the porters wildly run. 

 And say our fox is close before and very nearly done. 



Colder and colder grew the scent on those fallows bare. 



Our fox at last he vanished like hopes into thin air. 



Frank Monckton said he'd sunk the wind, Frank Foljambe said 



" Not so," 

 Sam Morgan backed the former up, as one who ought to know. 



In vain our Master cast his hounds, he cast on every side ; 

 The Member for West Staffordshire declared he cast too wide. 

 But, anyhow, of Reynard sly we failed to find a trace, 

 And so at last reluctantly we all gave up the Chase. 



February i6th, 1883. — Met at Grove. I came 

 down by early train from House of Commons. 

 Found in Eaton Wood, ran a ring to Castle Hill 

 and back, then away to Welham, and the railway 

 to his left, up the grass all the way to Eaton 

 Wood, and over the railway between the two 

 bridges. Here Rufus was killed by the express, 

 and half the pack must have been killed if the 

 dogs had not stopped to my horn and halloa. 

 Got up to a fox in the Railway Holt, and ran 

 between the railway and river, over to the Kennels, 

 back to Eaton Village, where I thought we should 

 have him, but away over the river to Gamston Low 

 Covert, Jockey House (the fox was seen here), on 

 to Middle Hills, all round them, back to Jockey 

 House, and lost him in the dark at 5.55. A very 

 hard day for hounds, and unluckily not killing. 

 Dogs, 17J couples ; wind, south-west. 



