Hunting at BrigJiton. 137 



" fields " attend nearly every meet, and it should 

 be the pride of the town to let nothing be wanting 

 to maintain the efficiency of the crack pack which 

 the master has got together, so as to draw strangers 

 from all parts to enjoy a gallop over their breezy 

 and health-restoring downs. 



On Monday last the Brookside met at a farm a 

 short distance from Rottingdean and the kennels. 

 The morning was stormy, and the air charged with 

 rain clouds. On presenting myself at Mr. Dupont's 

 establishment, I found he had selected "Emperor," a 

 five-year-old Yorkshire horse, 16h. lin., fit to go for 

 a man's life, and I trotted off, well content with my 

 mount. As we approached the meet, a wild storm 

 cloud burst over us ; but no matter, Mr. Steyning 

 Beard, without a moment's delay, proceeded to draw 

 for a hare. In an instant puss was up and off at 

 racing speed. Going swiftly over these tremendous 

 hills, making straight for Lewes, then crossing the 

 railw^ay, and going along the race course, she leads 

 us a merry spin over the ploughed and turnip fields ; 

 here the scent died away, and Mr. Beard, leaving 

 the hounds to puzzle out the line by themselves, 

 they hunted the hare slowly to Falmer village, 

 within a short distance of Stanmer Park, the seat of 

 the Earl of Chichester, wdiere they lost her. 



This was a clinking good run of an hour and a- 

 half, for three-parts of the distance at racing pace, 

 and those who did not jump off with the hounds had 

 to follow a stern chase, as they never had a chance 

 of overtaking them. Then we trotted back in the 

 direction of Telscombe Tye, where a shepherd had 

 a hare ready for us. Drawing the steep hill sides, 



