The Pytchley, and Charles Pay)i. 255 



entered the Pytchley kennel. Then the good 

 old character of that pack revived. 



Charles, as a pupil of George Beers, went to 

 a good school and made the most of that advan- 

 tage. Charles was gallant and graceful in the 

 saddle, sitting more firmly than any other man 

 could be strapped on. He was strong in body 

 and nerve, cool in the head, and patient in temper. 

 The way in which he used to treat a large Field 

 was admirable. The thrusters looked upon him 

 as a fugleman, knowing full well that he would do 

 his best and succeed if possible. All difficulties 

 seemed to fade before Charles, and no man knew 

 better how to catch a fox or how to breed hounds 

 for that purpose. 



I have seen him over the cream of the country 

 race his fox to death in thirty-five minutes; and 

 I have also seen him hunt a fox with a display of 

 great science. 



It fell to my good fortune to witness one of 

 Charles Payn's finest runs; this was on the 

 29th of December, 1862. 



The fox was found in a hedgerow in Preston 

 fields Hounds ran through the Church Wood, 

 away at the bottom over Preston fields up to 

 Mantel s Heath, through the covert ; they skirted 

 Knightley Wood, leaving Farthingstone Village 



