56' HUNTING AND SPOBTING NOTES. 



musical, and they showed a dash of determination this 

 morning that few foxes could have withstood. It was 

 decided to try the lower ground. Snow here would, 

 perhaps, lie lighter. By the time we got to Widows- 

 field, down it came thicker than ever, and had it not 

 been for a chat with Wadlow over a bit of steeplechasing, 

 and looking overhis training ground, we should have been 

 well-nigh frozen. " Come on," said my companion, 

 " they have drawn this wood blank, and are going to 

 Spoonbill. " Where could be a better guide ? So on we 

 went to Spoonbill. No hounds here at all events. I 

 met another of our small field, whose information led me 

 to suppose that they were gone towards Monkhopton, but 

 here there was no sign of them, and so Borderer, with 

 his head to the manger, battled on through the snow as 

 fast as he could to Bridgnorth. Three hours afterwards, 

 when curled up comfortably in an arm chair, having 

 regained his normal temperature, comes a knock at the 

 door. "We ail thought you were lost in the snow. 

 Had a capital run of an hour, and stopped the hounds at 

 Hughley ; got on a disturbed fox at Widowsfield ; did not go 

 into S]poonhill ; on by Butron, to the Edge Wood like 

 mad ; awful riding ; huntsman got a bad fall ; come dine 

 with me." It sounded like a dream, almost impossible 

 that hounds could have slipped aw^ay from Widowsfield 

 without Wadlow or myself seeing or hearing them. 

 Napping again, old B. Well, it is a sign of the creeping 

 infirmities that we are all heirs to, that I should have 

 been left behind from probably the easiest covert in the 

 dale from which to see or hear. I made no excuse but 

 went to dine in sullen silence. Under the mahogany, 

 however, all came right again. I regret to hear that 

 Mr. Summers contemplates severing his connection with 

 the Wheatland country at the end of this season, as 

 everything, I was disposed to think, pointed to his long 

 connection with the country. Perhaps Borderer's advice 

 unasked would be superfluous ; therefore he refrains from 

 giving it. Only hoping that •'' things are not what they 

 seem." 



