318 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PllAIRIE. 



must have, too, for an unsolicited puff. Let it be known, by all 

 who care to save a favourite mount, and ride him to the very 

 front — Mr. G. Cunard's famous black mare (who was well nigh 

 to die after twenty minutes of the Braunston run) went through 

 this gallop without a gasp or falter — with a tube in her throat, 

 and never a canter for the tlrree weeks since the operation ! 

 And his name it is Jones, the vet. of Leicester, who performed 

 the tracheotomy. Could a better test instance have been 

 found ? 



THE STAVERTON RUN 



Another grand run fell to the lot of the Pytchley on Satur- 

 day, March 24 — not so straight, not so brilliant, as the Braunston 

 gallop of a fortnight before, but a splendid performance and a 

 glorious treat. If it had a fault, it lay in the fact that there 

 was almost too much of it — as perhaps you may find ere you 

 get to my signature. Blame me not — the tale calls for some 

 telling. I will inflict no map on you this time — for that 

 already given at page 308 will answer all purposes. 



The present run was a great ring, of an hour and forty-five 

 minutes — from Staverton Spinnies, by way of Staverton Village, 

 Badby Wood (left untouched), Arbury Hill, Catesby, Shuck- 

 burgh, Flecknoe, Drayton Hill, Daventry Reservoir, to Whilton 

 Lodge, with only a few slight checks throughout. This was the 

 line (between sixteen and eighteen miles as hounds ran it and 

 as various computations go) — it needs no eulogy from me — and 

 here are a few particulars. 



Badby Wood had been the meet — bright and picturesque in 

 itself, pleasant and promising in the genial atmosphere of a cool 

 quiet morning, apparently picked and granted for sport — so 

 that we may carry foxhunting in its happiest aspect into our 

 summer's retrospect, and into our summer's fond forecast. The 

 Badby Wood foxes were on the rove ; and we hied to Staver- 

 ton, whose tight little copses — guarded the year round by 

 Mr. Wareing and Capt. C. Fitzwilliam — were rightly deemed 

 •certain tv. 



