306 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



holloa upon the run fox and the arrival of the pack. Now the 

 latter ran on well, and within reason, over the grassy hillsides 

 to Badby Wood — pointing at one time to Staverton, but driven 

 back up to the wood through their fox having met foot-people 

 on his way. So they struck through the beech trees on the 

 westernmost pinnacle of the wood ; then at full speed crossed 

 the Fawsley estate to Charwelton. At such a time it was no 

 source of regret that gates should make the way easy over 

 these beautiful grazing grounds. Close to Charwelton Church 

 came the first and only real check (forty-five minutes). Scent 

 then seemed to vanish : and the hunt came to an end. So 

 must my jottings. But never again let the hypercritic scoff, or 

 the unbeliever shrug his shoulders, at the Shuckburgh rhap- 

 sodies of Brooksby. 



I should add that some twenty people went through this 

 second run ; and among them I may be allowed to make 

 mention of Mrs. Bouch (the only lady), Sir Charles Mordaunt, 

 Messrs. Leigh, Beatty, James, Ford, Rose, Goodman, Fabling, 

 Jenner, Waring, Martin, Major Duthy, Capt. Atherton, and of 

 course the Master and his man. 



THE BRAUNSTON GALLOP OF THE PYTCHLEY. 



Out of your shell, my old snail ! Prick up your horns, and 

 spring to the occasion ! Tell the world what you know, what 

 you saw, and what you gathered of the Pytchley gallop from 

 Braunston ! Yes, a true, typical grass country gallop, of 

 exuberant pace and plenteous incident from beginning to end — 

 no flash-in-the-pan scurry — no slow difficult chase, by help of 

 huntsman and pottering of pack. But a straightaway, ravish- 

 ing, run — a race from find to finish, with a bold wild fox in 

 front, a swift pack in unhalting pursuit, and the best field of 

 the present day (I assert and repeat — and defy contradiction) 

 toiling and striving, not one atom against another, but in sheer 

 incompetence to be more than after hounds — and finally 



