MR. THORNHILL.— 1835. 339 



BY NECK OR NOTHING. 



HALFORD BRIDGE, NOV. 28tH. 



* For the chase now prepare, 



See the hounds snuff the air, 



Hark, liark ! to the huntsman's sweet halloo.* 



We drew Honington Coppices, blank, and went from 

 thence to Brailes. On drawing Mr. Sheldon's covers, 

 near the village, an old dog fox was immediately hallood 

 away, and from the bold manner he came up the hill, and 

 faced a field of at least one hundred, there was no doubt of 

 his being a good one. For a few minutes he kept skirting 

 the gorses on the hill, but pointing to the valley ; at the last 

 bit of gorse he put his head straight for the open country. 

 No doubt now remained of a run, and to get to the hounds 

 immediately, or lose the enjoj^ment of it, was certain. 



At the first check about 14 out of the Field were letups 

 this was about a mile from Brailes Hill, and the check, of 

 not more than a minute, was occasioned by our game 

 having run through a flock of sheep. Reynard then went 

 away over Weston Brook by the mill, across a stiff country 

 to Weston Open Field, leaving Weston House to the left, 

 across the London Road, over Wolford Heath, and then 

 straight for the Stour. The river was nothing more than a 

 full-sized brook in this place, but it was wide enough to stop 

 the career of many a good one. 



From this point the Field was very select, and none but 

 a good horse, in superior condition, could go the pace over 

 this stiff and hilly country. Our fox then made his point, 

 apparently, for Barton Grove, but leaving that to the right 

 he went on for Chesterton. Being viewed every now and 

 then, the last struggle, from its severity, became an object 



