54 THE BADMINTON HUNT. 



flash, as to render the line difficult to trace. 

 I have obtained the Information from kind 

 friends who participated in the glorious 

 event, and from those sources will endea- 

 vour to describe it. 



The eventful day was on the 2 2d of 

 February 1871, when they met at Swallot's 

 Gate. The big pack, consisting of seven- 

 teen couples, was on duty. A consider- 

 able portion of the covert was drawn before 

 they found, when, on reaching the eastern 

 division, a good wild fox without any 

 hesitation went away, running a ring to 

 the left in the direction of Brinkworth ; still 

 bearing to the left, regained the covert in 

 which he was found, but passed through it 

 without the slightest hesitation, and crossed 

 the Great Western Railway and canal, 

 wheeling to the left by Shaw House, leav- 

 ing it on the right, and again over the 

 canal and the railway. His thoughts were 

 not this time bent on home, as he took a 



