174 



LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



raced back to the Forest, another wide brook coming in their line. Bailey 

 got over with a scramble, the young Squire dropped a bit short, Messrs. 

 Crosse and Collins got over clear, and Mr. Arthur Edwards tackled it suc- 

 cessfully on " Bay Heighington." The rest found a ford. 



As the last fence into the road was reached, it was certainly the final 

 flicker in the candle for a couple of nags, for nothing would induce them 

 to go out of a trot afterwards, which soon lapsed into a walk. The end 

 was not far off, and only a remnant of the very big field that had gaily 

 assembled at High Roothing in the morning heard the "whoop" ring out 

 over the earth, where at the end of one hour and twenty minutes our 

 friend had found a sanctuary. 



It was now a case of home, but fifteen miles before that place could be 

 reached ; but with a nag that refused to be led, and had to be driven along, 

 it was not to be faced with equanimity. Fortunately, another sportsman 



-^?^^ '_^S?xir___-j^^ ^'^'^'"'i^f^.LuA 



Running for Takeley Forest 



was in the same plight, so one led while the other drove. More fortunately 

 still, our road led us past Mr. Collins's,='' whose proffered hospitality for 

 selves and nags could not be resisted ; and we sat down a quartette to a 

 very snug dinner at seven o'clock. Our horses in the meantime were being 

 well looked after, and a messenger was despatched for a trap which one of 

 the four had left at the King William. After two hours' absence he 

 returned with the news that the trap had gone home. 



There was nothing for it now but to face the inevitable, and get our 

 tired nags home as well as we could. It was a case of twelve miles for 

 three of us, and of having to ride a donkey for one of the three (whom I 

 will call " Henry John "), or being left behind. Well, to volunteer to 

 ride that donkey was one thing ; but to get on his back was another, for he 

 reared, kicked, and plunged as only a corn-fed and partially-clipped donkey 



* Mr. Collins was living at Hatfield Grange. 



