George Beers, HiDitsnian. 59 



In the month of March we had a very heavy fall 

 of snow without frost. Then came a gale from the 

 north and blew all the snow^ off the land Into the 

 hedges ; the wind then turned into the south-west 

 and a rapid thaw began. I took the chance, and 

 went to Astwell Mill and found master and pack at 

 the meet. My lord asked me if it would do. I, of 

 course, said " Yes." Will Derry was once asked 

 the same question on a hard morning ; his reply 

 was, " I see no danger whatsomedever I " 



"But how about this snow?" his lordship 

 anxiously inquired. " We must keep out of that,'^ 

 I said emphatically. 



Lord Southampton had a friend with him who 

 he was anxious should see his hounds. 



'' I should hunt certainly," I said, "and go to 

 Allithorn ; if the hounds beat us we must find 

 them and go home." 



We went, and I was thinking I had made myself 

 responsible, and should ' catch it ' if things went 

 wrong. We drew the covert straight up wind, 

 found at the top end and away hounds went ; no 

 mistake about it I could see. They ran up wind 

 leaving Sulgrave on the right, pointing for Then- 

 ford, a good mile ahead of me. I had the good 

 luck to see the hounds turn in the distance. 

 Thinking that the fox would make another bend 



