402 



FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



cross Fawsley quickly without them. Now I could well realise 

 the paradise they open to age, to crippledom, to the thousand 

 accidents that may leave a man still fond of foxhounds, but 

 very careful of his own safety. I tell you, Sir, this gallop was 

 luxury, rank revelry, sheer delight. I speak as a fool, and as a 

 cripple. But I speak for myself; and I wish you nothing- 

 better than that it brought half the warmth to your heart that 

 it did to mine. 



We careered to Fawsley House, and past it to the big covert 

 — our fox in plain view, not 300 yards ahead. The mile of 

 woodland was threaded in another five minutes ; then, more 

 slowly, the run went forward by the brookside to Everdon. 

 And only at Everdon did jumping begin, or rather the necessity 

 for it — for, though apparently at least one good man had 

 already clad himself in a muddy coat, there were some scores 













who like myself saw the whole run, bar the one quarter of a 

 mile while we rounded the brook, without being committed to 

 a single fence. The little Everdon Brook came in sight at the 

 exact spot whereat the Pytchley crossed it some weeks ago, 



