98 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING UIARV 



most likely point. Some, including Mr. Mills, bad the good luck not to go 

 in the forest at all, but kept round to the right, and met hounds as they 

 came out on the plain, over which the going was excellent, and gave us a 

 capital chance of catching them. I rather tliink that two or three couple 

 were a considerable way ahead of the body of the pack just here, but by 

 the time we got into the fields at the back of the Epping Brewery, they 

 were all together again. Here the fox was viewed with his tongue out, and 

 seemed rather inclined to cross the road, as he came down close to it (one 

 hound, I am told, being so close up that if he had not run his head into 

 a hurdle in the fence, which the fox jumped over, he would have had him). 

 Fence succeeded fence, one man coming a buster over a rail, with a drop 

 the far side, into Mr. Trim's field. Leaving his farm on the left they ran 

 parallel with the road, which gave those humanitarians who do not like 

 jumping their nags a capital chance of seeing the sport right over the 

 large grass field known as Knockers, almost up to the Sewage Farm ; 

 across the road, through the narrow spinneys, which contained between 

 them six ditches in the same number of yards ; and they were on the grass 

 again swinging down for the brook. The first dozen took it in their stride, 

 and also took a pull at their horses as they rose the hill, on Mr, Pegram's 

 land. 



There was an awkward jump or two to be taken here before crossing 

 the Bury Road, and hounds more than held their own as they raced over 

 the next fields. Two fields from the road Bailey's horse " Witchcraft " 

 came to grief, but Mills, who was in a capital place, and had been from the 

 very start, insisted on Bailey getting on his mare, an act which proved him 

 a thoroughly unselfish sportsman, for he dearly loved a good thing such as 

 we were then enjoying. The field was very attenuated as they come down 

 to a very awkward-looking obstacle, a regular trap. ; I extract from Mr. R. 

 Lockwood's diary the following — Ed.] : — 



" C. Green had an awful fall and nearly killed me. I was jumping in and out of a 

 narrow piece of wood in Copped Hall, and C. G., on pulling 'Chestnut,' jumped over 

 the whole place and me too . . . . ; but it was the best and fastest run I have 

 seen for years." 



Mr. C. E. Green's horse swerved into the ditch, and afterwards gave 

 him a very nasty fall before he got over ; but Roly was irresistible in 

 Dawson's breeches, and he was first through what proved to be on closer 

 acquaintance a very blind double ; an open brook beyond caused him no 

 trouble or delay. In and out of Spratts hedgerow hounds still sailed merrily 

 along towards Copped Hall Green, crossed the road near Warlies Park, and 

 bore away once more to the right, over the Cobbins Brook, near a very 

 handy ford, without checking ; ran through Shatter Bushes, where Bailey 

 got up to them again. Never left the line, through Deer Park, and, leaving 

 Galley Hills on the right, ran to ground at the bottom of it, on the 

 Waltham and Nasing Road. Time, 60 minutes. Those who know the 

 country will appreciate the points made and distance covered. A great 

 many rode and saw the run, but none better than Mr. R, Bevan, Mr. R. 

 Wood (in his usual quiet and workmanlike manner), and Mr. H. J. Miller 

 on a most remarkable cob. 



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