GEASS COUNTRIES. 363 



turf, wherever close cropped, as resonant as a sounding board ! 

 And yet I may tell you of two good gallops with the Pytchley, 

 and of two old foxes done to death in the open during the 

 week past. The lesser run I saw — and this I will inflict 

 upon you. 



Wednesday, Oct. 24, was the date — a ring of thirty-five 

 minutes about Thornby, to a capital scent and a sturdy old 

 vixen. Wednesday, you remember, was a warm sunny day, 

 succeeding a frosty morning. The ponds were ice-covered, 

 and the grass glistened white under the northern shades, 

 as we rode to Winwick Warren, for a 10"30 meet — a 

 very tiny meet too, and a very local one. (But, gentlemen, 

 you may look up your riding-garb, brighten your spurs, and 

 study the forecast now. The moment it is written " S.W. 

 winds, cloudy, some showers," you may hurry down, to find the 

 ditches well marked, the hedges thinning, and the plot gaily 

 thickening.) The cubs and their parents, on Wednesday 

 morning, were quickly ousted from the Thornby Spinneys. 

 One was run to ground : and then we moved towards 

 Elkington Bottom. A turnip field looked enticing, and hounds 

 were led over it — while we trod the turnpike and spared the 

 turnips. We even turned to the midday sandwich — but 

 stopped in mid-mouthful to list to a strange uproar from the 

 piece of green roots. " A hare, of course, and the puppies at 

 riot " — and we munched contentedly onward. By-and-by we 

 learned the cause of shout and whip-cracking. A lurcher dog 

 had pounced on a fox just roused, bowled her over before the 

 pack, and was only knocked off by a ready whipper-in. The 

 noise vanished ; and so, as we rode up, did the three red coats 

 of the executive. The provender-box was hastily sheathed ; 

 and in hurry and wonder we set off in pursuit. Vows had 

 been interchanged : comments had been muttered ; and we 

 ought to have stood still. Who was man enough to do so? 

 A locked gate forced a tittup from fallow to stubble — and so 

 the mischief began (the next chapter being to-morrow's visit 

 to the stable). 



