1882-83] Frank Beers' Diaries. 165 



uj3ec. 4th. — Preston Capes. Found in Hogstaff 

 directly hounds were in the covert, away at once 

 pointing for Charwelton ; turned away for Badby Wood 

 as hard as they could go, straight through the Wood 

 and out at the far end, the men headed him back. The 

 fox ran over the Earths, back through Fawsley Gardens, 

 as if for Hogstaff ; they ran nearly to Charwelton road ; 

 he did not go over the road, but turned short over the 

 hill nearly to Badby Village and on nearly to Catesby, 

 Staverton just to the left; over the bottom, over 

 Braunston Brook, several came to grief. I was first 

 over ; a most lovely country up to Flecknoe Village ; 

 turned to the left down to the brook; it was overflowing, 

 and a very wide place. Captain Riddell and I were the 

 first over ; the next man had a terrible ducking. We 

 ran away pointing for Staverton Wood, but bore to the 

 right over the road and the brook again, up to Shuck- 

 borough Gardens, but did not enter, away pointing 

 for Wolfhamcote, to the right over Braunston Brook 

 again, nearly up to Shuckborough ; past Catesby House, 

 towards Charwehon and Hogstaff, but they dusted him 

 along, so he turned to the left, past the Steward's house 

 at Fawsley. Hounds ran him almost in view, over that 

 big grass field with the round clump in the middle, 

 w^here they killed him. He just managed to get into the 

 clump, poor fellow ! he was most dreadfully tired. Some 

 say it was the same fox we started with, but it looks 

 impossible that one fox could have stood so much work. 

 Time just three and a half hours; found him at 11.30 

 and killed him at 3 o'clock. I rode Jerry first horse; 

 he carried me magnificently, but had I not met 

 my second horse when I did should have had to stop. 

 He jumped several fences with me after he was tired. I 

 never rode so much good country in one day in my life ; 



