4G0 



FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



bent on drawing his own comparisons between Northampton- 

 shire and Leicestershire. Then, Clifton being almost at the 

 junction point of three counties and three adjoining Hunts, 

 the Master may be said to-day to have been catering for at 

 least half the natives of the Midlands. (The parallel of 

 Barnum holding his three great shows in one arena naturally 

 suggests itself, but would be less graceful than apropos.) 



The afternoon saw quite a bright gallop from Cook's Gorse, 

 and bore out what has just been said about scent — for hounds 

 could turn with a fox that twisted, and then force him afield 

 whether he liked it or not. From Cook's Gorse they spun 

 sharply over the fields, at first towards Willoughby, then after 

 crossing the brook (which we bridged) swept leftward toward 

 Hilmorton, till they rose Barby Hill. Excellent fences, and 

 just pace enough for testing or teaching a young one — all 



except that jump on to a canal towing-path, which had too 

 much of the Mayne-Reid and Indian horsemanship flavour to 

 be altogether welcome to the timid fox-hunter. They made 

 Braunston Cleaves in some thirty-five minutes ; and there 



