THE THREE PACKS. 59 



Grange a momentary, very welcome, check was reached. Then 

 round Barkby Holt — a single field beyond the covert — and to 

 ground at Baggrave. Forty-seven minutes from the start. 



The joined forces had just time to warm over their compara- 

 tive stories and to cool in the north-easterly breeze, before a find 

 at Queniboro' Spinney set them going again, and bade them 

 jump and gallop in company to their hearts' content. I will 

 not weary with detail of all that was done during the next two 

 hours. A double ring, fast and full of incident, took them over 

 much of the ground of the morning — and even led to jumping 

 some few fences for a third time in the day. It led also to the 

 discovery that many of the Queniboro' fences are beyond not 

 only the heart of man but the power of horse : and in the first 

 quarter of an hour a hardriding field was more than once 

 utterly tied up. After working clear of this uncompromising 

 region, the pack made capital of a sterling scent to drive twice 

 through Barkby Holt, and to work a wide detour over country 

 where riding was all a pleasure. Mr. Cecil Chaplin, whose eye 

 to hounds is happily by no means dimmed by recent illness, 

 was seeking new strength in the genial warmth of the chase. 

 The Count,* ably emulated by a fellow spirit in close attendance, 

 was striving hard to find a fence big; enough for the smartest of 

 his smart chesnuts— and at length took the measure of one that 

 Avould nearly do. The Quorn hounds never shone to brighter, 

 more admirable, advantage — and altogether everybody enjoyed 

 himself and herself (Miss Constable will, I trust, pardon my 

 taking her as a type of the latter for the day). Even the 

 huntsman — to whom it must have been a sore trial to find a 

 fresh fox in front of hounds at South Croxton village, just 

 as they seemed running for blood — apparently sank all his dis- 

 appointment, in the knowledge of the sport, of which it is no 

 flattery to say that, by his faultless handling, he had been the 

 chief promoter. 



On Tuesday, Nov. 21, the Cottesmore were at Knossington ; 

 and, after running round and about Ranksboro' all morning, 



* Count C. Kinsley. 



