2 26 Hark Away. 



streaming away over the hard ground, running up 

 to the cross roads, where they came to a check. 

 Bollen then made a cast forward, but it was evident 

 they had overrun the fox, and a halloo from the 

 master brought them back to a small cover from 

 which he was viewed, going in the direction of the 

 Grange ; crossing the road, he then made for the 

 park, and the hounds racing for some ten or twelve 

 minutes over the grass, finally ran into him close to 

 the house, and speedily broke him up before the 

 field indeed could arrive at the finish. 



Certainly, this was a novelty; for it is the first 

 time in my life that I have seen a pack of foxhounds 

 hunting in the extraordinary condition that the 

 country was in on this day : neither did I ever 

 behold the master, the men, and the " field," toiling 

 on foot after the pack; or ever witness the break- 

 ing up of a fox within a few yards of a pool upon 

 which were assembled several ladies and gentle- 

 men, busily engaged in skating upon ice, which 

 looked as clear as crystal. One, amongst the fair 

 performers, at once attracted my attention, recalling 

 the words of Byron : — 



" She was a form of life and light, 

 That soon became a part of sight, 

 And rose where'er I turned my eye, 

 The morning star of memory." 



Such a day's sport has no precedent as far as my 

 recollection extends, and I think the popular and 

 sporting master is entitled to great credit for allow- 

 ing his huntsmen, even at the risk of some injury to 

 the feet of the hounds, to give them such exercise 

 during so unexampled and long-continued a winter, 



