THE RUN OF THE SEASON ON HEARSAY. 397 



flings into the breeze and laughs at the snowflakes, which make 

 men and women weep and shake their heads. Was it for this 

 incapacity, I wonder, that so many of them were brought to 

 book — in other words, to muddy earth — in the sharp cheery 

 half-circle round Charwelton Village to Fawsley, where the 

 fences are all twice laid and the ditches are double. Provi- 

 dence, or the Roman dynasty, has directed a broad turnpike 

 road to pass through Charwelton to Daventry — and this makes 

 the gallery now, while the performers fly alongside, in excellent 

 and most obliging taste. Two greys are obviously giving the 

 time, for the pit-pat of each double jump ; while the pack drive 

 into the storm, and tax galloping powers to the utmost. The 

 one is but a pony, ridden, if I mistake not, by a farmer; but he 

 has evidently the faculty of both pace and prowess. Then 

 Captains Riddell and Atherton, and surely a lady or two, are 

 flanking or following Beers through the tall bullfinches. I 

 w r ish I were there. It looks so easy — and a " double " never 

 means a real turnover ! Holloa — what is that ? Why, the 

 other grey — the best and best-proved hunter in all Northampton- 

 shire, Mr. Walton's immortal old horse, completely "rabbited" 

 — prone on his back. " Rabbited " indeed — caught in a snare — 

 wired ! Oh infamy, oh devilment — you set your snares, not for 

 the coward, not for the damage-monger, but for the first flight 

 and for the pioneer pigeon ! 



Now they are into my road — and if I scream " Yoi over, you 

 beauties " — who shall hear ? I know it is over — and forrard to 

 Fawsley, twenty-five minutes hot. And what a long story I've 

 made of it ! Put it down to the cherry brandy in the wicker- 

 basket ; assist me with it, and save me next Monday. 



THE RUN OF THE SEASON ON HEARSAY. 



Here is its outline, plain and unvarnished, but reliable to the 

 letter. The epitome may be contained in the words " An eight 

 mile point, over the very cream of the country. Time, fifty- 



