124 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



was difficult to believe a meet of foxhounds and not a race 

 meeting had called us thither. Indeed, the progress of Firr and 

 Iris satellite, as in scarlet array they rode down the lane of 

 people, was suggestive of nothing less than the pomp of Ascot. 



But, soon after one o'clock and after a hot dusty ride along 

 what is known as Sandy Lane, the field were marshalled on 

 i Gartree Hill, " with the bustling pack at their feet " in the 

 covert below. Then, after various alarms, they scattered in 

 pursuit for a broiling quarter of an hour after what may, or may 

 not, have been a vixen, but which at all events meant to go no 

 further than it could help. This fox to ground, the same covert 

 was called on for another. While it was being drawn, the 

 needful animal suddenly came from the open country, ran 

 amuck through the mass of shouting horsemen, and insisted on 

 making his way into the covert. It took ten minutes more to 

 persuade him that this was no quiet sanctuary, and then he 

 took his way over the opposite hill, between the village and 

 hall of Little Dalby. Of course we all knew the outer geography 

 of Little Dalby ; so at once took the road round, avoiding 

 garden complications, and met the pack with heads up in the 

 field next the Punchbowl. 



On happy information Firr acted at once ; and to his quick 

 and pushing readiness the run was owing. He bored his way 

 into that wire-kempt field, so familiar and hateful, that bars 

 Little Dalby from Leesthorpe ; and immediately the play 

 altered, the scene changed, and vigour succeeded tameness. 

 Hounds dropped their noses to some purpose ; and sped over 

 the grass at a rate we could scarcely equal on the road — which, 

 for sin or stupidity, we had nearly all preferred, for moments 

 meant, for minutes compelled. A most useful agent is a road, 

 and never more so than in a quick run (if the eye too be quick 

 enough to cut the indulgence short at the right second) ; but a 

 road in dust and heat and crowd forms an exasperating, de- 

 moralising, lowering situation that degrades foxhunting to the 

 level of — cart and aniseed. But so it was now for a clatter- 

 ing half mile ; so it was again after the two fields of bridleroad 



