152 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



Long may he flourish at Bobbingworth Hall Farm : — "A very 

 dear old friend of mine. Many a time have we ridden to- 

 gether, and may I be spared to see him going still in the 

 distance. I look upon him as one of the best men to get 

 across country on an untried or rough horse. You never saw 

 him skirting. When he has passed away, he will leave a mark 

 behind him that will not be forgotten. He rides straight and 

 he goes straight, and I should say, has never lost a friend." 



A Bye Day — And a real good one, Tuesday, Mar. 6th, when frost 

 not being quite out of the ground after a three weeks' stoppage, hounds did 

 not leave the kennels before twelve. After running and losing a fox from 

 Gravel Pit Wood, a move was made towards Hobb's Cross to try for an 

 outlier who was quickly found, and pushed through Hubbard's Hall at 

 rare pace. After one ring round Barnsleys he was away by Potter Street 

 and Netteswell, running past Mr. Todhunter's up to Pinnacles, and after 

 one hour and forty minutes was lost near Parndon Hall, the day being 

 wound up with a gallop from Latton through Harlow Park to the Lower 

 Forest. There were very few out, but among the few who were going very 

 well might have been noted Mr. H.J. Miller and Mr. R. Lockwood ; the 

 latter, although he knew it not, was having his last ride on his favourite 

 chesnut hunter, " Bull's Eye." On March 9th, in the Point to Point races 

 at Thaxted, the author had the misfortune to kill him. 



Saturday, March 24th, Navestock Heath. — A lovely day for scent, wind 

 east ; a little snow had fallen in the morning, but the sun shone out well 

 when we left our rendezvous for Weald Park, which every one seemed 

 to think would be productive of no good. However, we were all mistaken, 

 for scarcely had hounds been thrown into the Park before they found. To 

 extricate ourselves caused considerable delay, and an awkward and boggy 

 ditch brought early grief ; it was maddening to be riding the outside circle 

 with only occasional glimpses of hounds. When at last we caught them in 

 Weald Park they were not long before they led us into difficulties again at 

 the Dagenham Brook. Mr. Green's horse went bang in, but emerged on the 

 right side. Bailey's horse persistently efusing, yielded at last to the per- 

 suasion of his spurs and my lash. Eventually a very promising run came 

 to an end near Pyrgo Wood. Mr. Avila had a nasty fall over some 

 timber, and Miss Morgan fell at the brook. The next run was one of the 

 nicest I have had this season. The fox, a very red-looking varmint, went 

 swinging away from a snug lying wood on the slope of a hill near Weald 

 Park, and hounds came away at blast of horn close at his brush. The first 

 grass field was quickly crossed, and we swung left-handed to turn a covert 

 through which hound's were rapidly working. Away up a ploughed field 

 and with a burning scent you began to wish yourself over the Dagenham 

 brook wliich appeared in view. As hounds reached it they ran its banks for 

 a hundred yards, but to take this turn with them required a bold horse, for 

 a ditch of brook-like dimensions barred the way. Mr. Kemp hit it off at 

 the same place as in the previous run, followed by Mr. Bevan and another. 

 My mare refused, and in we went ; managing to scramble off her on the right 

 side, I gave her a jerk and by struggling hard she landed on terra fivma. 



The hounds meantime had turned left-handed, and their music echoed 

 back from the woods round Rochetts. After negotiating the brook what 

 ecstacy to be with hounds again, how exciting to view them away from 

 Hatter's \\'ood. The liuntsman gladly accepted Mr. Sworder's lead over 



