2 86 Hark Away, 



his best to show sport, and generally succeeds in his 

 endeavours. 



A fall of snow prevented my riding with them a 

 second time, and I shall have to wait until next 

 season to confirm the impression that they made 

 upon me. However, I saw enough to enable me to 

 say that no smarter or better-looking lot of hounds 

 are to be met with than those of the Duke of 

 Grafton. 



The fixture on the occasion of my riding with the 

 North Warwickshire was Hillmorton, three miles 

 from Rugby — the cream of the country hunted by 

 these fine hounds being separated by the Watling 

 Street Road only from those of the Pytchley. 

 Many have been the crack runs that have been 

 witnessed from this favourite cover over the big 

 grass fields in the vicinity. On my arrival at Rugby 

 I made my way at once to that most comfortable of 

 hotels, the Royal George, to give it its full title, 

 ■where I found, as usual, the house crowded with a 

 distinguished party of eager and expectant sports- 

 men, including, amongst others. Baron and Baroness 

 Briedback, Count Batthyany, Mr. W. N. Heysham, 

 Mr. James Shell, Mr. E. DalgKsh, Mr. Haig, who 

 travelled with his horses from Scotland, arriving at 

 four in the morning, when he at once prepared for 

 the day's work, neither man nor horse taking any rest. 



As usual, when I visit this sporting locality, I 

 paid a visit to Mr. Darby, who, before I had time to 

 sit down, proffered me a mount on one of his tip-top 

 nags, which I accepted promptly, knowing that I 

 was certain to find myself on the back of a clipper ; 

 nor were my anticipations doomed to disappoint- 



