98 HUNTING AND SPORTING NOTES. 



tlie higlier ground. At Bowen's hedges hounds hesitated 

 for a moment, but the Colonel soon put them nght, 

 through the round fir clump. Stanage was left on 

 the left, Willej Lodge passed, and Harley's Moiuitam 

 partially climljed. Along its side, opposite Pedwardine 

 Wood they ran prettily, and down through Berkley Knoll. 

 Just an hour to this point, quite straight, said a trusts 

 worthy watch. Now came the second, or middle ])hase of 

 this great run. Turning to the right, above the main road, 

 we had to encounter ploughed land, sheep, and lots of 

 difiiculties, past the Farlands, and then turned by a team 

 up the hill again, it took us nearly an hour to carry the 

 scent into the upper end of Lingen Valletts. Here to the 

 real hound lover was perhaps the greatest treat of the 

 day. Never lifted a yard, without a holloa or aid 

 of any kind, they had worked out their problem with 

 a patience and push that could not have been excelled. 

 Once in the Valletts scent slowly improved, until the 

 lower end in some thick briars our fox had waited. 

 Borderer heard the crash, and imagine his joy at viewing 

 him over the side, scarce fifty yards in front of the 

 pack ! Yes, there he was, the self-same fine fellow 

 that had proudly waved defiance to us at the start, 

 but now he went stiff and high, his back was still straight, 

 but his coat was dirty, and had lost its gloss. I gave him 

 another ten minutes to live, and stirred up the well-bred 

 young Siderolite for another effort. Alas, the fallacy of 

 human calculations ! Down towards the village he is 

 headed. Eound the two hundred acre covert, and another 

 vain attempt to get away. We shall catch him. No, he 

 is over Coleshill, and out towards Kinsham. There are 

 two lines — hounds dash Ijack towards the hill, but the 

 Colonel shakes his head ominously, his practised eye sees 

 that he is wrong, but who can stop hounds with tired 

 horses and up a hill ? There is nothing for it but jjatience, 

 and here Colonel Price excels all other huntsmen I ever 

 saw. He gets to them at last, and returns to the spot^ 

 where he thinks the mischief was done. The field in the 

 meantime have either been tailed off, or have lost heart at 

 this coniretem2')S, for very few are with the master now. 

 Borderer confesses to the bitter compunction which 

 compelled him on reaching the top of Coleshill to decline 



