THE RUN OF THE SEASON 97 



the lane, over a couple more obstacles — the last one being the steeplechase 

 fence at the bottom of the Rundells course ; and, just as hounds had nicely 

 settled to it, Bailey had the mortification of finding his fox had got into a 

 drain, from which it would have taken about a week to dislodge him. This 

 was just sufficient to whet our appetites, and make us doubly keen, for it was 

 quite evident that there was a scent. Back we went to Latton, where the 

 hounds touched on the line of a fox that had been viewed going back, and 

 Sir Henry lost no time in having his hounds taken on to Parndon Woods. 



I have often noticed on a good scenting day — I do not care what size 

 the coverts — foxes do not care to dwell in them. Parndon Woods are not 

 small, and you must keep your eyes and ears open and trust to your luck 

 if you do not wish to be left behind. The little spinney on the opposite 

 side of the road, which frequently holds a fox, was first tried, and then the 

 long narrow piece bordering the road to Rye Hill without finding ; half of 

 the next piece was got through, and not a whimper at first ; but still there 

 was plenty more covert to draw, when the first whip rode up to Bailey with the 

 intelligence that there was a fox on the move at the top end towards Epping 

 Green, and almost at the same instant " Forrard Away ! " was heard. 

 Hounds required no urging as they raced over the first field, where very 

 few took heed of a sportsman's warning cry, " 'Ware tares," in the excite- 

 ment and eagerness to get a good start. Crossing the lane you were lucky 

 if you hit a weak place out of it, and luckier still not to get blocked in at 

 the same place waiting for your turn with an obstinate refuser in front of you, 

 for hounds were going their best pace over the grass, which rode like velvet, 

 a few easy flying fences — a bad case for you if you fell, for all took them in 

 their stride — led us down the slope towards Shingle Hall, up one more field, 

 the first ploughed one, and some as they landed in the road very nearly 

 jumped on the very tools, I would wager, that had ploughed it. 



A couple of strides, and they were on the grass again, leaving Mr. 

 Kemsley's farm on the right ; a weedy-looking chesnut was taking his rider 

 well to the front, and you wondered how on earth he had kept on his legs so 

 long, as he looked more fit for racing on the flat than cross-country work ; 

 but good hunters go in all shapes. I am sorry to have to add that early in 

 the second part of the run he came down and broke his back. A couple of 

 fiel(]s from the road we had the Cobbins Brook in front of us. I have 

 likened this brook to a good many things, but never, I think, to a Derby- 

 shire dingle or dumble, which, I think, it resembles more than anything 

 else. We had barely time to find a fordable place and scramble out before 

 hounds were racing away again over the next grass field, Mr. Tyndale 

 White and Bailey cutting the work out on the left, and Messrs. Bevan and 

 Wood on the right. No picking and choosing of fences ; the pace was too 

 good, as Bailey evidently thought, as he swung over the rail by the side of 

 the gate leading into Mr. Symes's lane, whither the chase had now 

 brought us. 



A very decent ditch and bank, out of the lane, a couple of wheat fields, 

 and we jumped into the Epping and Harlow Road, but as the hounds 

 crashed into the forest on the far side, you knew the run was not over 

 yet. The three miles to there, as the crow flies, was very pretty, but there 

 was better to come. The lower forest is a most abominable place to get 

 into when there is a good scent. Through a succession of beastly bogs 

 and briary bushes we at last emerged on an open glade, when we turned 

 sharp to the right, and were soon on the North Weald Road. Here a 

 good many, including the Master, who had been well up with them to this 

 point, had the bad luck to be thrown out, for, instead of turning sharp back 

 towards Epping, they kept straight on towards Gaynes Park, certainly the 



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