82 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



of Great Dalby. A high slope gives us a point of vantage and 

 a two-mile view. Even now we are in good company — though 

 the fray is melting in the distance. A single rider is still set- 

 ting a mulish horse at a flight of rails that a hundred hoofs 

 have rattled and left. A single hound (poor fellow, I'm ten 

 times more sorry for you !) is driving and zigzagging across the 

 valley — desperately intent on regaining his comrades, if he can 

 but make out their line. Road and lanes are besprinkled with 

 galloping, or loitering, skirmishers, in each possible and im- 

 possible direction ; and forrard up the next hillside goes the 

 fast-vanishing struggle. Oh, what a scent ! Oh, what a 

 country ! Misty it is now ; and the rain is falling. But you 

 ought to see better than this, though you were born of woman. 

 Blow your nose, fool ; and stand up on the cushions ! How 

 wide fellows ride, when the pace is good ! There's a field's 

 difference between those on the right, and the lot on the left ; 

 and they bend and sway with each other like squadrons on 

 parade. Past Guadaloupe and over the hill, with the spire of 

 Melton Church beckoning them on. God speed you, gallant 

 gentlemen : You will tell us the tale to-morrow ! " Twenty 

 and odd minutes to Melton — the best of fun. On by Wicklow 

 Lodge and across the railway to Wyfordby. Firr got a view ; 

 and pushed him back round Burbage's Covert to Burton. 

 There hounds and fox were in the same field ; and he was done 

 to a turn. But directly afterwards they seemed to get on to 

 the old line, put up their heads, and lost him at the very spot 

 where he had passed Wicklow Lodge before. But it was a 

 sporting run, even without a finish." 



CONVALESCENT. 



" Riding to covert in Leicestershire is better fun than hunt- 

 ing in any other country," says Whyte Melville. 



Tuesday, Jan. 23rd, was a bright beautiful day, with the 

 sun shining gaily, but with a crisp cold feeling in the air that 



