692 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



manner of man offending, its exhibition was now due neither to 

 the dimness of sight that is consequent upon late hours nor to 

 the false vigour of strong restoratives. It seemed to me, on 

 the contrary, that many who, as a rule, haste not to dance nor 

 hurry to ride, now merely seized the occasion of hounds 

 requiring time that they might shine as delinquents in the 

 wicked art of overriding. In plain English, there were men 

 among hounds and round them — while the latter were flinging 

 and straining in mad eagerness to catch the first thread of the 

 line just cast them — who seldom if ever keep, or even attempt 

 to keep, a good pack in view during twenty quick minutes. 

 " The thrusters are bad enough," say the Masters (more power 

 to them, to their gentle tongues and to their oft-tried tempers!) 

 " but the shirkers and makebelieves are ten times worse." 

 This is gospel, as is shown by commas inverted. 



Well, you will understand, that Friday's field went rather 

 faster than the hounds — for some few minutes at starting. 

 The find had taken place, not at the Coton Spinneys (which, 

 like the Coton sideboard, are possibly languishing for want of a 

 resident tenant), but at a warm and roomy withy bed, planted 

 in recent years by Mr. C. Marriott, by the side of Bensford 

 Bridge on the Watling Street road. The little river Swift 

 flows through the osiers, making it difficult for the huntsman 

 to command both sides of his covert. To-day's fox went north 

 (whence, by the bye, the black clouds were swooping omin- 

 ously) ; the pack were chiefly on the southern bank ; and, 

 before the horn could be sounded on the trail, the latter had 

 been well trodden under foot. The Atherstone ladies indeed 

 form a beautiful pack — much like the Grafton, in make and 

 length and shapeliness ; not quite so generally matched for 

 colour (a very minor detail), but very even in build, and very 

 quick and vigorous and bold in work. 



They hunted under difficulties for ten minutes, by which 

 time they had reached within a few fields of the right of 

 Twelveacres Wood; then a kindly fox jumped up before them, 

 and they were off, over the pick of the Atherstone grass. I 



