244 Hark Away. 



After tins preliminary canter an adjacent cover 

 was drawn, and a second stout, determined fox went 

 away a rattler. Running a ring he made for the 

 Clayton Woods, but not daring to remain there very 

 long he was speedily away again, making for Clay- 

 ton Holt ; but his foes were close upon his track, and 

 he was bound to break away at once. The hounds 

 not dwelling a moment in the cover, slipped through, 

 and raced him away along the side of the hills in a 

 dense fog, which rendered the riding difficult, and to 

 an extent dangerous to those unaccustomed to this 

 severe country. Only two or three of the field were 

 able to live with the pack in this darkness visible 

 that enshrouded the downs ; but conspicuous and 

 foremost among them was the master, Mr. S treat- 

 field, who managed somehow to keep with them, 

 followed by Mr. Ingram of Chailey, who managed 

 accidently to fall in with them ; whilst Captain 

 Paley, of the 5th Royal Lancers, as if by instinct, 

 galloped alone along the foot of the hill, falling in 

 with the hounds, and, being unable to see the 

 master, supposed he had got the hounds all to him- 

 self; whilst Mr. Streatfield and Mr. Ingram, riding 

 at the top of the hill, enjoyed the same opinion, such 

 was the state of the atmosphere on this occasion. 

 Gallantly this noble pack, undaunted by the diffi- 

 culties that surrounded them, pursued the fox over 

 hill and dale by themselves, as it was impossible for 

 any one to keep close enough to assist them ; 

 running, after quitting Clayton Holt, to Offham, 

 leaving the Offham chalk pits to the right, and 

 making for Connesbury Park, where the huntsman, 

 Mr. Dupont, and several of the field, contrived to 



