LOCKJAW 303 



been available three days before, for the surrounding country was under 

 water, and you might have punted from Hohbs Cross to the meet. There 

 were serious doubts as to whether the ford en route to the coverts would be 

 available, and it was only on the understanding that Mr. Sworder would 

 play the pioneer that hounds were taken that way. 



They found at once in Col. Lockwood's coverts a leash at least that 

 kept hounds busy for an hour or more before one paid the penalty of his 

 timidity. Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits, and so have home- 

 dwelling foxes ; but he was a sensible old dog fox who went straight 

 through the gorse for the Forest, and left some of his progeny to settle 

 accounts with the hounds. Thus early in the day a good run was nipped 

 in the bud. But ill is the wind that blows no one any good; so the 

 carriage folk revelled in the fun that went on around them, of which they 

 managed to see a good deal more than the riders. 



Havering gorse ; another quick find, a sharp burst up to the Forest, a 

 ring round it, back again somewhat slower, patient liunting in the gorse, 

 out of the gorse, back again, worry and whoop ! while we eat our sand- 

 wiches, and then home, altogether a capital cub-hunting day. All heard 

 with great regret that the chesnut mare which carried Jack so brilliantly 

 in Monday's run has succumbed to lockjaw, the result of the loss of half a shoe : 

 real bad luck this — for man and masters. 



Tuesday, November 20th.— Two hours with Mr. Barclay's Harriers, at 

 Maries Farm, by the kind invitation of Mr. Lewis Phillips. Not a yard of 

 scent with a brace of hares found in one of Mr. Boram's fallows — certainly 

 not enough to warrant one in following the Master over hog-backed stiles. 

 Quite a treat, however, to watch the masterly way in which Mrs. Rowland 

 took the young grey across country never honoured with sight of hounds or 

 press of side-saddle before — the mare took to leaping like a duck to water. 

 Mr. Boram seemed very happ}^ too, on the Master's 300-guinea chesnut, 

 and Messrs. Parham, Rickett, Willis, Hart, Sewell, Dent, G. Buxton, 

 Rev. Jones (no one else out) bent on enjoying themselves. I reluctantly 

 left hounds, but horses are not cast-iron, and the grey cob voted it pretty 

 close work three days running. So, home in time for a hot luncheon, with 

 a shrewd suspicion that there will not be a yard of scent to-morrow. 

 Tempus monstrahit. 



Wednesday, November 21st. — Prognostications about scent all wrong 

 after all, but a complete change in atmospheric conditions, none of 

 that blue mist, with a cold flashy wind and a falling glass, but a bright sun, 

 Favonian breeze, and a rising barometer, all pointing the other way, 

 recalling, as we drove to the meet, George Herbert's well known lines : — 



" Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so Vmght, 

 The bridal of the earth and sky — " 



Very bright ; but I have not yet come across the man or woman who cares 

 to have a bright sun in their eyes in a quick thing across our Roothings ; 

 nor have I ever heard any one say that it interferes with scent. Jim 

 Cockayne, the huntsman to the Old Surrey, who had come out to have a 

 look at his former country, talking of sunny days, reminded me of a good 

 run we once had from Belgium Springs in a bright sun, when eleven came 

 down at the first fence. I remember it well ; also the Parson's gate out 



of the next field. A new one now hangs in its place. But what of 



to-day, my friend ; tell us something about that ; where hounds went ? and 

 what they did ? — get on to the line, don't stand babbling ; skip Hyde Hall 

 springs, and the abortive try for an outlying fox en route to the Forest, but 

 don't call a fox a hare again, when he slips away from the small Avood just 

 outside it. 



