The Close of the Himting Season, 285 



woodland side, and we galloped away for thirty 

 minutes, running a ring, and finally pulling down our 

 fox in Plumpton Avood, when the cry of " Who-hoop, 

 who-hoop ! " made the welkin ring. One good man 

 went wrong, getting into a brook, but as he seemed 

 quite content with his position, and time pressing^ 

 he was left alone in his glory to get out as best he 

 could. After this we trotted off for Weedon Bushes, 

 not neglecting, however, to stop by the way at 

 Oakley Bank, to accept the hospitable offer of re- 

 freshments, which Mr. Aris delights to proffer when- 

 ever he has an opportunity. Neither this cover, 

 however, nor Braddon Spinnies, nor even Kingthorn 

 w^ood, held a fox this day; however, better luck 

 was in store for us. 



When we reached Ascot Thorns, soon the cheery 

 note of the horn, and the cry of " Gone away ! gone 

 away ! " was heard, for a resolute fox was quickly on 

 foot, and went away at a clinking pace in the 

 direction of Bugbrooke ; doubling back sharp when 

 he came to the railway, where I viewed him in the 

 same field with the hounds ; running back eventually 

 to Ascot Thorns, where he went to ground. There 

 was scarcely any scent ; but when the hounds got 

 on good terms with their fox, they ran him for twenty 

 minutes in first-rate form, giving us a sharp gallop 

 across a stiff line of country, which would infallibly 

 have ended in a kill, had we had a more auspicious 

 day. Being carried in first-rate style, my horse 

 taking his fences in grand form, I enjoyed the day's 

 sport greatly. The country though stiff is always 

 practicable, and the hounds are handsome, clever, 

 handy, and persevering; whilst Frank Beers does 



