Botvton Gorse. 89' 



o'clock out came old Sol, and away we went to draw 

 Ercall Park, where very soon wo had an holloa away, 

 which when we arrived at the scene was pronounced to be 

 a vixen, wdiich the hounds on their part seemed asnmch 

 disinclined to hunt as did the huntsman. The other 

 coverts nearer the river were blank, and so was the- 

 Marie ; it has not held a fox this year, and is thoroughly 

 cut up and disturbed, so no one was disappointed. 

 Forester's Plantation, too, followed suit, and there was 

 nothing left but a move to Eowton Gorse. Never 

 perhaps in the annals of Shropshire has such a small 

 field gone down to take part in this draw. Not more 

 than a score, all told, one half of which by common 

 consent went to the further end next the railway, and 

 the remainder waited at the foot of the hill, a field away, 

 so that there should be no excuse for heading him. Still 

 patiently we waited. Foxes were at home, but their stay 

 at home propensities that have so often been the bane of 

 this sweet little covert seemed as strong as ever. At last 

 the first whip gives a faint cheer, and the quiet scene 

 springs into life. A fox had broke at the top corner by 

 the side of the brook, and hounds flashed up the meadow 

 parallel with it. Our little cohort is divided, some on 

 one side, and same on the other. It is a doubtful point 

 which fortune will favour. Now they cross the brook to 

 our side, and we waive a defiant "come on" to our 

 friends on the other side. In another field they have 

 the laugh at us, for hounds re-cross, and we have to be 

 after them. Luckily, a ford is straight in front of us, 

 and away we go prettily. Frost and snow are forgotten ; 

 the country rides safely enough. Our fox takes us still 

 on the grass parallel with the railway and brook, a pretty 

 line. Does he mean Wythcford ? No ; he leaves it to 

 the left, and Ellerdine seems his point. Now there is the 

 brook in earnest, and, as usual, second thoughts aro 

 worst. A Chestnut and a lady are over, but with the 

 rest there is scrambling and grief, as the next field gives 

 us a worse take-off and landing. Borderer flounders 

 into a bos, a soldier mistakes a plank bridge for a safe 

 means of crossing, and in goes his horse, luckily without 

 damage. Hounds are acconnnodating in their pace, and 

 do no run straidit awav from us, so that before Ellerdine 



