THE GERMAN OFFICERS 275 



Two gallant strangers — officers, I believe, in the service of a friendly 

 State — were with us in this run. To one, at least, it was his first experience 

 of fox-hunting in England. I hope not his last, for like a good sportsman 

 he went through the qualifying experience of being blooded, remarking that 

 ^^ Foxhunting was very good sport, and Bailey a very pretty fellow." They stuck 

 to us to the end of the day and went very hard and straight. A regiment 

 commanded by such as they could be relied upon to give a good account of 

 itself either in charging the enemy on the open plain or cutting them off 

 across a country. 



That there was a good scent on the grass was fully proved by our next 

 fox. Going away from Griffin's Wood over the Copped Hall estate, he led 

 us along merrily up to the Bury Farm plantation on the hill, and then turned 

 towards the keeper's house, crossing the brook, and so at the same pace up 

 to Spratts (Hedgerow). Mr. R. Lockwood and the huntsman came up to 

 it as the pack bustled together after the three leading hounds, who had 

 jumped the gate into the covert. Not right but left they turned, over the 

 wheat and down to Mr. Pryor's farm, and raced along through the planta- 

 tions that border the estate up to the lodge gates, and into the Forest, which 

 was reached some fifteen minutes from the find. After having essayed 

 Luffman's and one or two other earths, he managed to get to ground. A 

 narrow squeak, too, for there was a better scent than usual in the Forest, 

 and hounds gave him no rest for about five-and-forty minutes. 



The Master declared, if necessary, he would draw on till seven to find 

 another fox ; and he was as good as his word, for it was close upon six p.m. 

 before the few who remained to the end saw the hounds get away with one 

 from Tattle Bushes : it turned out to be a vixen, so they were shortly 

 stopped. 



Of the 200 who had assembled in the morning only a dozen, including 

 the two gallant officers already mentioned — shall it be told ? — shall it be 

 whispered that five of our own service had left us ? — remained to the finish, 

 and they were : The Master, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. W. Sewell, Mr. H. Fowler, 

 Mr. W. Buckmaster, Mr. G. Buxton, Mr. Benton, Mr. G. Sewell, and Mr. 

 R. Lockwood. Still, it is more than doubtful whether even these would have 

 borne the burden and heat of the day so long, had it not been for the free 

 hospitality they encountered by the way, commencing early at Mr. Felly's, 

 continued at Mr. Chapman's, Hollyfield Hall, and winding up at Mr. 

 Charles Bury's. There was absolutely no excuse for falling away, hardly 

 even for that half-expressed wish of one lady for a cup of refreshing bohea. 

 The wind blew keen and the moon rose full and bright over a landscape 

 which never looks better than when riding home in good company, on a 

 sound horse, and cheered by the reflections of such a happy and eventful 

 day. 



Saturday, March 24th, was certainly more like golfing than hunting 

 weather, and though your regular stagger may affect to despise so tame a 

 game as golf, it certainly numbers among its most enthusiastic votaries 

 many ardent foxhunters. So I confess I was not surprised, but certainly 

 pleased, to receive a post-card from a friend on the morning in question 

 saying that, as O. was going stagging, of course the foursome we had 

 arranged (by-the-bye, we were all fox-hunters) had fallen through. 



It was short notice for a man with a limited stud, but the groom said 

 that the coh umld do it. I notice the cob always has to do it when it comes to 

 extra days and hard work. Driving to the fixture, some eight or nine 

 miles distant, I met two of the delinquents, but the fourth — perhaps out of 

 consideration to our feelings — never turned up. Having mutually con- 

 atulated ourselves on the turn of affairs, we proceeded to do every 



