98 HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



the hill to the right with no result. A whip has 

 careered away meanwhile towards the holloa, 

 and succeeds in stopping the hounds which had 

 slipped on. Meanwhile, up come the second 

 horses and the tail generally. On again though 

 at a much reduced pace, below Belton, and so 

 for AUerton. The deer has run the Uppingham 

 road for a bit, but deserts it gain. By Ayston, 

 with more holloaing than hunting, and at last, 

 and for the first time since the start, the deer is 

 viewed by the pursuing horsemen. He takes 

 matters easily enough, though running on for 

 Glaston. Here the huntsmen being away for a 

 minute, Lord Hardwicke takes hold of the 

 hounds, and gives them a lift, assisted by Neil 

 and Goddard, of the Cottesmore. Tom Firr is 

 handy but in plain clothes and strictly en 

 amateur. On and on by a new railway to an 

 overflowed brook in the valley. Here the deer 

 stops, but breaks away on the arrival of the 

 hounds. Hounds and deer are all together in 

 Gaston Gorse, but the deer coming out alone 

 delivers himself over some high timber, and 

 stops in the water again. Excited officials and 

 amateurs wade into the water, regardless of their 

 boots and breeches, but the Baron isn't caught 

 yet. Up the opposite hill he canters, and the 

 hounds pursue. 



Now we arrive at another village, Wing by 

 name, and the deer takes up his position on a 

 heap of stones that place him nearly on a par 

 with the top of a high wall overlooking a farm- 

 yard, and throws up the sponge. Now to take 

 him! The gold-laced officials approach, the 



