38 THE BELVOIR HUNT. 



cleared up the doubt with me. He suc- 

 ceeded in getting some of the hounds, and 

 they settled to their work in a manner that 

 none will do unless accustomed to such 

 difficulties. They were not long in reach- 

 ing Bescoby Oakes, but there were only 

 nine couples. On entering that covert they 

 inclined to the left, and away straight as 

 possible for Croxton Park. As I passed 

 through the gate on to the classic turf, 

 reminiscences of Billesdon Coplows came 

 across me, but the speed of Bellissima 

 would have failed to outpace the pack. 

 How charming it is to see the efforts of the 

 overriding crew defeated. Like pigeons 

 the hounds flew over the hill — they had 

 never been interrupted ; the pace from the 

 commencement had been too good for that. 

 Down the vale to Branston they rushed, 

 where the fox, being headed, turned on the 

 right, which occasioned a check. Time 

 thirty minutes, distance over six miles. 



