io6 Hark Away, 



finally we ran him to ground after a capital run. 

 Then he was dug out, and speedily broken up by the 

 eager pack After this we found another fox, and 

 ran him hard over an extremely difficult country, the 

 hounds hunting the fox themselves, at times when 

 no one could get to them, in a fashion that I have 

 rarely seen equalled. Heavy showers fell at inter- 

 vals, but they did not stop Mrs. Bellew, who gave 

 myself and friend — we forming the field — a lead 

 down a steep hill into the beautiful village of 

 Withypool, at a pace which was simply astonishing ; 

 but this bold and clever horsewoman is invariably 

 well-mounted, and upon animals, too, that are ac- 

 customed to the country. After a capital run, we 

 ran the second fox to ground, who met the same fate 

 as his predecessors. The services of Spot were 

 called into requisition, and this beautiful specimen of 

 a fox terrier, whose muzzle was scored and scarred 

 in a wonderful way, betokened many a fight with 

 an old dog fox when endeavouring to force him 

 from his stronghold. 



On Sunday afternoon, I paid a visit to " Jack Bab- 

 bage," and Jean, his auld wife ; a veteran huntsman 

 is he indeed, now in his 78th year, whose fame has so 

 often been proclaimed in connection with the Devon 

 and Somerset Staghounds, and whose portrait ap- 

 pears in the well-known presentation picture of Mr. 

 Bissett and liis pack. Now beyond work, he lives 

 quietly and contentedly at Rhyll, and was pleased 

 to have a chat about the sport he loved so well and 

 followed so long. The following morning Mr. Bellew 

 mounted me on a remarkably clever horse, and again 

 we went cub hunting, riding up to our girths in 



