48 HUNTING AND SPORTING NOTES. 



terra-firma — charging through the hounds and horsemen, 

 across the road, m face of a multitude. The Babel was 

 tremendous. This no doubt upset his nerves, for his 

 course afterwards was most erratic. Now he ran round 

 a house and buildings, and now back in a contrary direc- 

 tion, and then describing a letter S, he took us with a 

 catchy scent scross more roads, and through some 

 awkward hairy fences that made their mark on the field. 

 One man was bleeding like a pig, and must have lit on 

 his nose ; another was down twice ; and two others who 

 do not fall as a rule, were in a like predicament. This 

 went on amusingly till we came to a little covert opposite 

 Cardiston Church, where no doubt our short running 

 little friend dodged back, or lay down, while Thatcher 

 tried to make us believe that he had absolutely flown to 

 Eowton and galloped off there, when all the time there 

 were some lusty lungs proclaiining him back towards 

 Cruckton. There is no gainsaying the fact, however, that 

 the cutting east wind was fast freezing up the fallows, and 

 that hounds' feet have to be considered. The General's 

 *' rooster " lives, we trust, to fight another day. And 

 here ends my hunting diary for the week, frost having 

 put a stop to all fun for the rest of it. 



I forgot to say that I heard the Shropshire had a very 

 fast thing with a kill in the open on Monday week, from 

 Stoke Heath. 



The Salop Bachelors' Ball, at the Lion, is, we fancy, 

 only a revival of an old affair. Be that as it may, 

 however, a capital dance Was accomplished by them on 

 Tuesday, the twentieth. Everybody seemed to do their 

 best at enjoying themselves — the supper and champagne 

 were capital. Encore, cry all young ladies, as well as 

 the married men. 



There is to he a hunt meeting at the Eaven on 

 Saturday next when I trust there will be a good 

 attendance of sportsmen. Perhaps I am heading the fox, 

 but I cannot help thinking that the south side of the 

 country will again be called upon to separate itself from 

 the north. It is hardly fair to Mr. Lonsdale to ask him 

 to undertake it for another season, especially as he has 

 plenty of country for five days a fortnight, or even three 

 days a week, without it. What we want is a resident 

 near Shrewsbury, who will quietly undertake the south 

 country for two days a week — Wednesday and Saturday. 



