286 Tlie Bicester. 



On the last day of the season, in 1846, I was 

 out at Trafford Bridge. We went to Warden Hill 

 to draw. Winfield informed me that his Master 

 would not come near him that day, for, '' He is 

 riding a horse which kicks hounds," said he. " I 

 had my orders yesterday, before we left, to be 

 out at Warden Kennel ; if I go north or south 

 I know what to do." 



When we reached the covert he said, " Aloo ! 

 creep in." Tom never threw his hounds in, and a 

 fox was soon afoot, and, after a round or two, the 

 fox went away on the Edgcote side. There stood 

 Jem Hills, of the Heythrop, who told Tom that it 

 was a dog fox. The hounds were soon down at 

 the Edgcote Mansion, round it to the left, and into 

 some long f^at meadows, running hard. My mare 

 set her foot in a trench, and end over end she 

 went. In getting up she pulled my right foot on 

 to her shoulder, I was hanging on the near side, 

 my foot having left the stirrup and gone through 

 the leathers. Several people round did not know 

 what to do ; but Winfield soon settled it, he lifted 

 me by the shoulders and I was up in a second. 

 This was the first and only time I was hung up. 



We then ran through Edgcote Coverts, away 

 into the Grafton country, where Tom and his fine 

 pack of hounds were seen to advantage going on 



