A DAY ON THE GRASS 



63 



down hill three abreast to the halloa at the bottom of the wood to find 

 hounds flinging forward with a good scent on the grass by Chambers Farm, 

 and the big drop fence, and on to the Cobbin Brook. Fords are not 

 numerous over this historic stream between the Keeper's house and the 

 Bury road. But the Mate hit off one on the right, and another native of 

 these parts, heeding not the naughty swear words of a kindred spirit who 

 had viewed the fox making tracks by the brookside, plunged through another 

 on the left, followed by Captain Cairns and one or two more, only to have 

 to retrace their steps almost immediately, while the right-hand division, 

 headed by the huntsman, made a wide detour to outflank hounds in their 

 supposed flight to the Warren. 



Epping Long Green 



Sans huntsman and first whip, Easterby did fugleman, and laid the 

 hounds on the line of the fox, who headed in his second point over the 

 Bury road, retraced his steps to Orange Wood, where, being baffled once 

 more at the Nasing side, he awaited Bailey's directions, and it need scarcely 

 be added that he received a notice to go at once. This time he succeeded, 

 crossed the Bury road, and led us over a very pretty country — over the 

 land of that good sportsman and friend of hunting, I mean Mr. Kemsley, 

 who, though a non-hunting man, hasn't a yard of barbed wire on his farm — 

 and brought us along at a fair pace to Maries Farm. Why did the Mate's 

 horse whip round en route and block the way ? 



Horses were smoking-hot when we drew rein at Maries Wood, for the 

 day was muggy and warm to a degree, and the country after the recent 

 heavy rains rode very heavy. 



Everyone was on the dart in this little burst, but no one jumped on a 

 hound, and the huntsman was given a very free hand for his cast, as the 

 Master held the key to the situation in the narrow bridle-gate at the corner 



