148 



LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



thick fence near Pinnacles, which neither Lord Rookwood's, 

 Major Tait's, or Mr. Tyndale White's horses would face. 

 We should like to see Mr. Scott out a little oftener than we do, 

 for he makes few days and short hours. 



Rev. R. Leslie Scott on "Joan 



'Twas like old days to find a leash in Sir Charles Smith's osiers at the 

 first time of asking on Monday, February 15th. One went over the river for 

 Tawney, another hung back, and a third went best pace to Curtis Mill 

 Green, so that Mr. Waltham, Mr. Drummond Smith, Mr. Patchett, Q.C., 

 Mr. Tyser, and a few more who, extra cunning, thought of securing a good 

 start on the north bank of the stream, were left behind, and " sarved 'em 

 right," for 'twas impossible to thread the narrow lane betwixt carriages and 

 horses with be-ribboned tails in time to see hounds enter the Green. A fox 

 out at the bottom end for the Navestock country was not pursued, and 

 every vestige of the chase (even Mr. Tyser had taken my advice and ridden 

 back for the Green), with the exception of a few carriages, had been 

 swallowed up in the depths of this wild straggling covert, when, a sadder 



