60 mms of the IfMinttna-ffielt) 



' The last time I saw Mr Meynell in the field was, 1 

 believe, nearly the last time of his being with hounds ; 

 it was after Lord Sefton had taken them. We met at 

 Thrussington Wolds, a seat of Lord Ferrers, and found 

 directly in the plantations close to the house. We went 

 well away with our fox for about two miles, and thought 

 we were in for a run ; but he was met and attacked by 

 a shepherd's dog, which grappled with him ; he dis- 

 engaged himself and went on ; but in a few fields more 

 we found him drowned in a canal which he attempted 

 to cross ; so that, no doubt, the cur dog had injured 

 him. I observed Mr Meynell very forward in this 

 short but sharp burst, frequently cheering as he went. 

 As we were drawing for a second fox, I witnessed a 

 remarkable instance of the quickness of his ear — more 

 remarkable at his period of life, when that wonderful 

 organ is seldom so correct. The hounds were in a small 

 covert, about a hundred yards from the place where he 

 stood, which commanded a view of it. Lord Sefton 

 went with the hounds and stood close to the gorse. A 

 hound spoke, but he spoke cautiously. There was no 

 cheer to him, so he was suspected ; but " one word " (as 

 we say) from a hound in a Leicestershire covert sets every 

 man on the alert for a start. It is like the sound of a 

 bugle to prepare for the charge, and, on some nerves, 

 has much the same effect. However, in this case, the 

 alarm was false, and Lord Sefton rode up to Mr 

 Meynell, and asked him what hound spoke in the 

 covert, " I think it was Concord," said Mr Meynell. 

 " It was not Concord," said Lord Sefton. " He was at 

 my horse's heels." " It was either Concord or Caroline " 

 (brother and sister, and their first year), replied Mr 

 Meynell. In five minutes the point was decided. 



