l62 LEAVES FROM A IIUNTINC. DIARY 



twenty-five in all, I should think), had partaken of some light refreshment 

 at the Wake Arms, they proceeded to draw for a fox, ye gods ! in Luff- 

 man's Gorse ; a ringing view-holloa soon proclaimed a find, and didn't they 

 fly to it, didn't the Mate whack his young 'un along and didn't young 

 William kick his heels in, and didn't the grey pony respond to his rider's 

 enthusiasm ? Oh no ! of course they didn't, for hounds were not hunting, 

 but simply racing to a burning scent, and you knew that it would take you 

 all your time to keep within touch of them. Two deep, quick circles through 

 some of the prettiest stretches of the Forest, the chase spread merrily along, 

 and brought us to the boundary fence of Copped Hall, a hedge cutter when 

 interviewed, but not before — oh ! what a lethargic soul — said our hunted fox 

 had gone across there, pointing to the open country and stretching pastures. 

 Miss Philby was on the spot, and she had the horn ! 



■•# 







Wake Arms 



\\'ho can describe the rapture with which we viewed the swift little 

 hounds pick up the scent and fling to it in one long, drawn-out chorus ? 

 Sweeping over the brow of the first grass field, then dipping into the hollow, 

 we held them well in hand as they raced on, leading us up to the fence 

 which borders the drive to the big house. Thank goodness for those two 

 easy opening iron gates. Impatiently Hurrell swung them back, and the 

 vision of the game little pack sweeping over the park, the warren in the back- 

 ground, with the chance of returning to it our only fear, a thing to be 

 remembered ; but no, they leave it, and we knew there was nothing to stop 

 them for miles, except approaching night. Mortifying in the extreme was 

 it to that staunch sportsman, Mr. Philby, as fairly penned in in the Warren, 

 the chase swept further and further away from him. At last in desperation 

 he put his mare at a very unjumpable place, came down, and lost still more 

 time catching her. In the meantime, to be with hounds as they rose the 

 hill towards the Bury I'arm, a wide ditch with bad landing had to be faced. 



