I06 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



wild stampede. If you got through with the first half-dozen you might 

 have noted that no one could catch the huntsman and Mr. Seymour 

 Caldwell, who was riding a clinker (Mr. Guy Gilbey's bay), before Heathen 

 Wood was reached. You might further have observed that hounds turned 

 back at Heathen Wood for Moor Hall, first crossing the brook, and going 

 for Sheering Street. It was a case of the last being first, for the front 

 rank rode for the bridge and the road, and away from hounds, while the 

 rear guard had the choice of a ford over the brook, a cut at the brook, or 

 a coast down the brook, according to age, discretion, or valour. Valour * 

 (can we say discretion ?) had a cut at it in more than one instance : but it 

 was the last day in the world to be riding about in boots full of water, 

 even though whisky inside them, and a dose for the rider, was available 

 on the spot. 



Safely back in Moor Hall we recovered hounds, and lost the fox. No, 

 not even up a tree could they find him. 



Brevity being the soul of wit, the best description j of the gallop, over- 

 heard during the day, may be accepted as follows : " I galloped there a 

 mile behind (there, being Heathen Wood), and I galloped back a mile 

 behind (back, being Moor Hall)." And on one of the two journeys most, 

 if not all, of us, who have any regard for veracity would have to confess 

 to its accuracy. But it warmed us all the same, and we expected a great 

 run from Harlow Park, and we got it not ; neither at Latton, nor Parndon, 

 for scent there was none. So foxes and those who like riding in Bailey's 

 pocket every cast he makes had it all their own way. Yes, all their own 

 way ; yet, before the shades of night had fallen, they were giving him lots 

 of room in the run that, commencing at Mr. Todhunter's spinney, went on 

 for two hours before it was wound up below Monkhams at the bottom of 

 Galley Hills ; and how he came to have such a free hand, tire all the 

 horses out, and succeeded in satisfying the most ardent pursuers, is here 

 briefly and truthfully set down. 



As already remarked, it was with the fox — a good one, too (you won't 

 walk so leisurely out of Parndon Woods, my bucks, the next time it is 

 drawn) — from Mr. Todhunter's spinney that he did the trick. It was the 

 first six or seven fences that straggled the field out, and brought at least 

 one man X — not a light one — to mother earth, as we raced for Broadley 

 Common. We don't often meet there now, but just fifty-one years ago a 

 great run came off over the country we were so shortly to cross (of which 

 more anon) from this particular fixture ; and it was the gallop across 

 Nasing Common that took the buck and kick out of most of the nags ere 

 they had cleared the Coppice and raced to Deer Park. 



What a boon to hunting men a well drained track across this quagmire, 

 if freed from ant hills, would be. That all escaped them without a spill 

 was astonishing, for we crossed them diagonally. In the great run already 

 alluded to they brought to grief the only man, the second whip, who got 

 away with hounds from Parndon Woods, and there were only three out of 

 a big field (think of that as compared with to-day ! ) who succeeded in 

 crossing them fast enough to get away with hounds as, leaving the coppice 

 behind, they ran at a great pace to Copped Hall, and making a sweep, 

 came back by Epping Church to Parndon Woods in the hour. The 

 wTiter§ of the run, who was well in it, and had had some experiences in 

 Leicestershire, remarks that the country they crossed after leaving the 



* Mr. Nevill Dawson got in. t Mr. Gerald Buxton's version. 



% Mr. Howard Fowler on his bay. § Mr. C. R. Vickerman. 



