115 



to one on a kill then and there, but unfortunately a large 

 flock of sheep were running between the fox and the 

 pack, which not only prevented a view, but the sheep 

 molested the hounds by running all amongst them, 

 which enabled the fox to reach Aslackby village, and the 

 natives then took up the chase as long as they could 

 view him. This circumstance bothered us more than 

 the flock of sheep, and some minutes were lost before 

 we recovered the line, and when we did, hounds could 

 never do much more good ; still we hunted on by fits 

 and starts past Dowsby, and away over the Fen district 

 to within two miles of the I orty Foot. Distance, as 

 the crow flies, is not less than fourteen miles, and it is 

 impossible to run over a finer line of country. 



March 17th, 1877.— Three Queens. The Heath 

 coverts all proved tenantless, but we found a good fox 

 at Buckminster, who made away over Saltby Heath, 

 thence by Wyville to Stoke Rochford Park, and from 

 thence away between Skilhngton and Woolsthorpe to 

 G-unby Warren, to ground. Some fields before reach- 

 ing this covert, we several times viewed our fox just 

 ahead of the pack, and he was dead beaten. Just at 

 this critical moment a very dark cloud passed over us, 

 when there was not a particle of scent, which enabled 

 reynard to reach the earths in safety. The time of 

 this good sporting run was an hour and forty-five 

 minutes ; distance, about fourteen miles. Lord Gran- 

 ville, Lord Wolverton, and Major Whyte-Melville were 

 out ; the latter gentleman expressed himself to me as 

 being very pleased with the sport. 



December 12th, 1877.— The House, Melton Mow- 

 bray. This day will be remembered as the "Pink 



