144 02V THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



them for a longer gallop later on. Then we trotted 

 back to Gartree Hill, which was drawn blank, the 

 noise of the foot-people assembled on the hill causing, 

 no doubt, the foxes to leave the covert of that popular 

 gorse for some quieter retreat. From thence we 

 moved to Sir Francis Burdett's covert, where a fox 

 was viewed going away in the direction of the Burrow 

 Hills. Bearing to the left, he ran below the hills, 

 making for Little Dalby, crossing the lawn of Dalby 

 Hall at a racing pace, up to which point my gallant 

 gray carried me first of all this large field. I do not 

 say this in a boastful spirit by any means, but 

 simply to point out to some of my young friends 

 who occasionally speak rather disrespectfully of the 

 doings of us elderly men that, gray hairs notwith- 

 standing, there is life in some of the old dogs yet. 

 From thence the fox made for the Punch Bowl Covert, 

 running along the hillside, going for Gartree Hill, 

 and then away to Great Dalby at a rattling pace. At 

 one time the speed was fast and furious ; there was a 

 crash of timber, several good men went wrong, and 

 I saw three horses running riderless. Away, until 

 within a short distance of the new railway from 

 Melton to Harborough, where we came to a check. 

 Picking up the scent, the hounds then ran him in the 

 direction of Burrow Hills ; but, bearing to the right, 

 the fox made for Sir Francis Burdett's covert again ; 

 then going once more over the hills, he made for 

 Little Dalby, running thorugh the plantations, pointing 

 for Melton ; but the hounds getting on good terms 

 with him, they ran into him and broke him up within 

 a mile or so of Melton, after a capital, enjoyable run 



