A Week with the Southdown. 245 



get up with them, after a long and severe stern 

 chase; and, as night was drawing on apace, the 

 hour being 5*15, Champion was compelled to whip 

 off his hounds whilst running in full cry, being in 

 dangerous proximity to the line of railway, after so 

 gallantly pursuing the sturdy fox, who managed 

 this time to escape them. 



This was another very severe day for hounds and 

 horses, which, however, acquitted themselves very 

 well, for I was told that every hound but one Avas 

 up at the finish, which speaks volumes for their 

 condition, and tells plainly how capital a head they 

 carry. Doubtless, the master would, imder the cir- 

 cumstances, have greatly enjoyed running into his 

 fox, and breaking him up in the absence of his hunts- 

 man, an opportunity which is very rarely afforded 

 him, and as from circumstances he let the opportunity 

 slip, it will be some time probably before he gets 

 another chance, as it is not very often that Champion 

 is out of the hunt. Considering the state of the 

 weather, this must be considered a rare good day's 

 sport, and when, after a terrific burst, the hounds dis- 

 appeared in the fog, or I may say clouds, it might 

 be considered a case of hunting under difficulties. 

 No better test of the quality of this crack pack can be 

 shown than is evidenced by the fact of their running 

 their fox so great a distance without the aid of their 

 huntsman. It, however, does not surprise me, when 

 I remember how diligently they have picked out the 

 scent step by step when hunting their fox over the 

 downs on a stormy day, gradually working up to 

 him until they got on good terms, when he had no 

 alternative but to do or die. 



