1887-88] Frank Beers Diaries. 185 



ran, through first covert, Plane Woods, down to BHs- 

 worth Ironworks, over the canal to Ellsworth Station, 

 short back to the village. Roper's Gorse on the right, to 

 Tiffield Allotments ; raced him from that covert, in view, 

 to the Northampton and Ellsworth road ; two fields 

 beyond made a ring, pointing for Nun Wood, back to 

 Ellsworth over the canal at the tunnel mouth to the 

 Roade Cutting. Stopped the hounds : the fox dead- 

 beat. I saw him walk up the cutting and lie down in 

 the six-foot way ; a train came past him, which he took 

 not the slightest notice of; two plate-layers came and 

 buffeted him with their caps before he would get up, he 

 then trotted before them back out of the cutting, and 

 climbed up the embankment ; when half-way up he was 

 so tired that he lay down again, and was obliged to be 

 put up by the second w^hipper-in. When fairly off the 

 railway he made such a poor go that the hounds went 

 and knocked him over as he w^as in a walk, so terribly 

 dead-beat. 



'' Found in Stoke Park, ran to the garden, and killed 

 him, very mangey. Gave it up. I rode Prince Charming 

 and Jenny Jones. The dog-pack worked capitally. 

 18J couples. 



'' March 25th. — Owing to deep snow hounds did not 

 meet till 12.30. Found foxes in Stowe Wood ; they 

 ran there for thirty-five minutes with a good scent, and 

 killed a dog fox. Found a good fox in Snorscombe 

 osier-bed, away on very good terms through Hen Wood 

 and Little Preston Wood, bore away to the right of the 

 village, straight to the top corner of Hogstaff ; did not 

 enter the covert, went on as straight as a line to 

 Fawsley Church, over the Waterfall, up to the left-hand 

 corner of Badby, not dwelling in the least ; ran fast 

 through the wood and out at the right-hand corner. 



