2 lO 



I.EAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



A momentary hesitation on the plough at the left of Maries Farm — a 

 very welcome one to the young squire whose fox we were running, and who 

 here, after a hard and stern chase, had managed to catch us. Alas ! Endon, 

 why didn't you persevere a little longer ? Getting on the grass again, 

 hounds pressed on into Maries. Some legitimate doubts may be expressed 

 as to why Mr. Parham did not join us at this spot; why the welter on the 

 roan rode so forward ; as to the exact spot where Mr. Sorrell lost his hat ; 



J. Brockett Sorrell 



and where Messrs. Sworder, Lyall, Ball, and Major Tait eventually 

 managed to overtake us ; but there could have been no doubt whatever 

 about the performance of that good hound " Startle," who was across the next 

 grass field before her companions were out of covert. Forrard ! was the 

 cry over the road that ran parallel with the Cobbins Brook — here con- 

 veniently bridged — it attracted us as a magnet does a needle ; and it was 

 only the sight of the Master's form sailing along in wake of hounds that 

 kept us from crossing it. 



Never part with your chesnut, Sewell, for you owe him a lot of grati- 

 tude for refusing the wire ! Mr. Kemsley, however, is too good a friend of 

 the liunt to put up wire, and to the left of where you were trying to break 

 your neck there was a good way over. Crossing the Epping road near Mr. 

 Kemsley's haystacks, hounds were brought to their noses on Mr. Olney's 



