HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 71 



February 14th. Thursday. Rettendon Bell. 



Dull, showery day, S.W. wind. Found 

 near Square Grove, ran up to the old Rettendon 

 Mill and back to Square Grove, then down by 

 the Rectory and towards Battlesbridge. About 

 fifty minutes ; very httle scent indeed. Then 

 found in Kemble's Gorse, ran through New 

 Wood to Rettendon Common, across to the 

 brick kilns, to Scrub Wood, on to Well Wood 

 and Cock Wood, and lost in Beaver Wood. 

 Thirty-five minutes very fair run. A very 

 small field out, not more than twelve. I sup- 

 pose the snow of late prevented more from 

 turning up, but the snow ha dall vanished. 



Charles Tabor called on his way to Retten- 

 don, and came galloping up to the house, 

 cracking his whip as no one else has cracked a 

 whip in the County since : " Put your habit on at 

 once ; I have ordered your horse — Not fit to 

 hunt ? — of course it is " ; and as no one ever 

 dreamt of disputing his commands, off I went to 

 dress, and we were soon jogging along the 

 slushy roads, and glad enough, I recall the fact, 

 that I did go out that day. We had a thorough- 

 ly enjoyable run. The ditches were rather full 

 of the melting snowy water. Charles Tabor 

 and Treacle managed to subside into one of 

 these as we were crossing Crows Heath, and it 

 took him some time to emerge, and at one 

 moment it seemed probable that Treacle would 

 have to be dug out. Fortunately the run was 

 nearly over by that time, and Charles Tabor 

 being wxt through, we said good-night and went 

 off home. 



