HardtvicJie Gorsc again. 67 



some thought was lame, but he proved too nhnble for 

 the hounds with the poor scent forthcominf; to-day, and 

 made a safe retreat towards Berwick and on to Leaton 

 Lodge, his whereabouts being traceable no further. In 

 the evening a good thing came off for the few left to 

 «njoy it. Merrington to Middle Park Cliurcli, Harmer 

 Hill and Pimliill, then by Merrington Green to the place 

 -of departure, and on Bomere Heath to Leaton at 

 nightfall. 



Saturday was productive of better things, a truer 

 hunting morning never dawned, and Mr. Frank Bibby is 

 tjver keen to show what Hardwicke can produce in the way 

 •of foxes. His gorse has never failed this season, and now 

 it held a regular straight backed one thatSvaved his brush 

 boldly to his foes, and was off like a shot towards Harmer 

 Hill, then bending to right did not touch Broughton Gorse 

 •or Shingler's, and kept a capital line. The racing pace had 

 told its inevitable tale on the long hne of horsemen that 

 spread over the landscape. A check here brought people 

 together,and at a slower pace they hunted on pastBurlton 

 Mill, and nearly to Petton, where he was given up. A good 

 straight seven mile point. Back to Shingler's Gorse, hard 

 by, when np jumped number two, also a straight chap, for 

 ,he took them over the London and North Western Kailway 

 at a great pace, and never halted nntil he reached Grinshill 

 when a plethora of foxes confused matters for a time, until 

 Thatcher succeeded in accounting for one or other of its 

 denizens. Whether Broughton Gorse gave an evening 

 gallop or not a one-horse man could not say. Be this as it 

 may, however, the day was a good one, and will rank 

 ^mong the best of the season, both for pace and country. 



Is it not time that a meeting was called to decide on 

 what shall be done about the South Country next season ? 

 There seems little or no desire for separation now, but 

 j^)ublic opinion is always worth gauging. 



E2 



