8o LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



livino- at Rolls Park. He commenced to hunt with the Essex 

 Hounds, if I am not mistaken, in the season '78-79, and now 

 takes a leading- part in the affairs of the Essex Hunt, whether 

 in subscribing liberally, organising with his brother Frank the 

 Hunt balls, or acting as starter at the Rundells races, Mr. 

 Ball is a busy man ; he generally catches the 8 o'clock train, 

 and like all busy men, enjoys his hunting as much as anyone, 

 although he generally limits himself to three days a fortnight. 

 A good judge of a horse, he never has a bad one in his stable, 

 though " Burke," upon which he won the light-weight Point-to- 

 Point at Rundells in 1883, was always my favourite. He has 

 a wonderful eye to hounds, just as his brother Bob had, and 

 although rather fond of coffee-housing, he always goes to the 

 front and remains to the finish. 



Perhaps one of the most curious adventures that ever befell 

 any sportsman in Essex happened to Mr. Ball when he was 

 riding " Harcourt " on December 5th, 1894. The horse, 

 always a bit headstrong, got out of the track in Man Wood, 

 and Mr. Ball was brushed off by some boughs ; half dazed, 

 he staggered to his feet, and seeing no sign of his quad, set 

 off in search of him. After walking, as he affirms, some miles, 

 exploring this big wood, he eventually returned to the spot 

 where he had fallen, but could see nothing. Luckily he 

 heard a slight rustling in a thicket close by, and making his 

 way to it, there sure enough, faster than ever Samson lay 

 bound in the green withes of Delilah, was "Harcourt" held 

 fast by the clinging brambles, which had to be cut away 

 before he could be released. 



One of the best runs Mr. Vigne's Harriers had this season followed a 

 meet at Canes, by the kind invitation of Mr. George Hart, who, with 

 his usual hospitality, entertained all comers on Saturday, January 5th. 

 Of the run with the first hare, there is little to be said, except that in 

 a very fast burst up to Weald Church, and on to Weald Hall, Mr. H. Hine 

 was not quite so successful in negotiating the brook on the return journey, 

 over which Mr. E. Lawrence had shown him the way, as he was at the first 

 essay. Running at a rattling pace to Forest Hall, they had to whip off, for 

 it was forbidden ground. After killing a hare in a good ring roimd 

 Mr. Hart's, they found again near Thornwood Gate, crossed the turnpike, 

 and leaving Nathan's on the right, entered the lower Forest, below 

 Mr. Smyes' fortunately to leave it directly, as the hare doubled back on 

 the road away for the open country, when unfortunately a good many 

 relinquished pursuit. Scent improving, it was all horses could do to live 

 with hounds the best part of the run as she ran right across the common, 

 leaving Mark Bushes on the right, and so reached Harlow Common by the 

 Bush House, and on through Mr. Fred Brown's farm, leaving the Sun and 

 Whalebone on the left, crossed the main road, and through Harlow Park 

 from end to end without a check. Dwelling a moment on some fresh turned 

 plough, she passed on by Shonks, Sewalds Hall, and those in pursuit thought 



