288 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



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Mr. Tovnbee in 1894, only a few months before that excellent 

 JLidoe of horseflesh died. ' Mr. Charles Green suggested that 

 pardng with the horse killed him, and Mr. Swire says that he 

 could lilmost l^elieve it, for a better and bolder hunter it would 

 be hard to hnd ; a high recommendation, for Mr. Swire has 

 some clinkers. " York " also has done park hack for Mr. 

 Swire for the past two seasons, and very nearly "did for" the 

 camera when he was taken, as he reared straight up directly he 

 saw it, and then bolted. He was most difficult to take, and 

 the shot was instantaneous. 



INIonday, Coopersale at 8.30. It is a matter of congratulation to 

 the Hunt that the well-known covert of Beachetts has fallen into the 

 hands of such a good sportsman as Mr. Gerald Buxton. With good 

 luck we are likely to have sport from there, if Monday morning's 

 experiences go for anything. Mr. Buxton, who, with his sisters, made 

 his first appearance this season with the hounds, must have been heartily 

 pleased, for not only did we find some rare straight-necked cubs, which 

 went away over a very good line of country, but he was one of the 

 fortunate few who were lucky enough to get away with the hounds when 

 they drove their first fox out of the deep recesses of the covert and 

 embarked upon a sea of grass. Passing close to Mr. T. Miller's farm, 

 they turned over the road, leaving Mr. Jordan's on the right, and ran 

 fast over the grass meadows past Barbers without touching it, and over the 

 brook, wdiich nearly brought Bailey down (the rotten bank giving way 

 with his horse as he landed). On and over the Abridge road, leaving 

 Garnish Hall on the left, they turned up to the Priory, and crossing the 

 road, swung down towards the river, but headed by some ploughmen, 

 the fox kept to the right, through a small covert, and passing close 

 to Theydon Hall he made his point on to Loughton Shaws and the 

 Forest. 



What all the field were about to get left behind I don't know, but 

 out of about a hundred who were in the big wood when hounds first spoke 

 to the line of a fox, it is sad to relate that absolutely only four, besides 

 Mr. Gerald Buxton and his sister, can say that they saw every yard of 

 the run, from start to finish, though a good many nicked in when the 

 cream had been skimmed and the tale had been told near Theydon Hall. 

 All, however, vowed that they would not be left behind again when we 

 returned to the Beachetts ; but how rash to make such promises, for 

 although hounds came away with a fox which went field for field the 

 identical line his friend had travelled, certainly not more than eight or 

 nine were aware of the fact, and had it not been for failing scent the 

 disastrous loss of another good run would have occurred. 



^^'ednesday, October 24th, Hatfield Town, will long remain in the 

 memories of all who stayed for the finish as one of the wettest days 

 on record ; at about eleven the rain, for which all seemed unprepared, came 

 down in sheets, penetrating the thickest meltons and pouring mercilessly 

 into the best fitting boots. Several ladies, including Lady Warwick, Mrs. 

 Arkwright, Mrs. Neale, Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Crocker, Miss Jones, and ]Miss 

 Steele, were caught in this downpour. 



No fox was found until we reached Canfield Hart, by which time the 

 wind had risen considerably, and it was with some difticulty that hounds 

 could be heard running in covert. A holloa away towards Wilson Springs 



