34 Charles^ Third Baron Southampton. 



from a drain. They had succeeded in getting 

 the fox into a narrow compass, but could not 

 get him into the bag. He dismounted from his 

 pony, and said to them : '* Lend me the bag, 

 you don't understand it." Mr. Ayers placed the 

 bag in proper form, and told them to poke at 

 the other end of the drain; and into the bag 

 Reynard went with a rush. Mr. Ayers tied the 

 mouth of the bag up, swung the fox over his 

 shoulder, and promptly rode away with it, leaving 

 the men looking very blank ! 



Lord Southampton was in Towcester once a 

 fortnight at the Board meeting, and generally 

 came through the market and had a chat with 

 the farmers. I was deputed to ask his lordship 

 to hunt this fox the next day at Bradden, where 

 the hounds were to meet. I told him that Mr. 

 Ayers had bagged a fox, and that he wanted him 

 hunted next day, and that he was such a good 

 one he would give them some work to catch him. 



'' I won't hunt a bag- fox ! " his lordship 

 exclaimed ; " my huntsman is wild enough now, 

 and if he knows he is hunting a ' bagman ' I shall 

 have to shut him up ! " 



I said, " My lord, it seems a pity, after all 

 Mr. Ayers' trouble, not to hunt him; Morgan 

 need not know. 



