JOHN WHITK TAKES A TOSS 369 



What was there to stop them before they reached Matcliing Park or 

 Brick Kilns in the far-away distance ? — nothing but one snug httle covert 

 to break the Hne of the fine stretch of open country ; and yet in a few 

 minutes tliere they were coming back full cry — a regular steeplechase. A 

 prettier sight one could hardly have witnessed, and one in which it rarely 

 falls to the lot of Mr. Chaffey-Collin to play the passive onlooker, for he 

 generally leads the dance when the band begins to play ; but wisely had 

 he exchanged the good bay for the galloping hack, for good as the ploughs 

 might be, the banks were still hard and the turf was worse. But this 

 short gallop had only served to whet the appetites of the customers, and 

 they were eager and keen for more. One ! Two ! Three ! Everyone 

 of them slipped as they landed on the headland of the wheat field in which 

 we were quietly waiting for them. The fourth man did not. Mr. Sam 

 Fitch on a grey, which a short time ago, if I am not much mistaken, had 

 his first lesson in jumping at the hands of Mr. Fitch, jun., and was not 

 voted by that young gentlemen a particularly good performer ; but, 

 Bernard, it will be a long time before you come up to your father's form. 

 He has got the right enthusiasm about him that will make any horse go. 

 I speak from experience, for my knowledge of his prowess dates back 

 sixteen years. Quite a school followed Bailey as he cast round Canes 

 Wood. Feeling that I did not belong to them, and not caring to incur any 

 more chaff, I sneaked ofT home to keep an appointment, hearing siihseqiiently 

 with unfeigned regret that they did not find again. 



Saturday, March 2, offered a choice bill of fare. Curry de Reynard to 

 be had for asking at Pleshey, eighteen miles off, too far ! Venison at 

 Blackmore, 12 p.m., well within reach at ten miles, and a hearty welcome 

 to all comers. Jugged hare at Sewalds Hall, 11 to 4 ; a choice dish, and 

 a select few invited to share it ; five miles by road, three-and-a-half with 

 the crow. Compelled by business engagements to throw in my lot with 

 tlie last, I dropped in after 2 p.m., for a very nice little spin, although 

 too late for the morning dish which Mr. Barclay's harriers had served up. 

 WHiat a chorus there is with this game little pack ; you could hardly lose 

 them in the thickest fog, and you can find them directly when they are 

 running full cry. Full cry it was as they came racing towards me near 

 Sewalds Hall with a hare picked up on one of Joe Tucker's fallows ; but 

 alas ! the melody gradually died away as the hare ran them out of scent. 



Very few out, though ; some, including Mr. J. Pelly and his daughter, 

 had gone home, but a small field is a sine qua non with harriers — ^Mr. 

 Shapland, the host of the day, Mr. Hart, jun., Mr. Avila, Mr. G. Sewell, 

 Mr. Lucas, Mr. and Miss Waters, Mr. H. Fowler, Mr. Tyndale White, 

 jun., and Mr. Morris, and I think, you have them all. Scent, by common 

 verdict, had been bad in the morning : mid-day brought little improve- 

 ment, but an afternoon hare led us a merry dance. Jumping up out of 

 the same field in which I viewed one go away when Bailey was making 

 his cast round Canes on Thursday last, Mr. Barclay lost no time laying 

 hounds on, and they raced away for the Weald Brook without crossing. 

 Several of us being a little too previous and putting ourselves out of 

 court by jumping it, Mr. Tyndale White, jun., getting a nasty fall at the 

 next fence, a wide open ditch running parallel with the stream for some 

 distance, hounds suddenly turned left-handed, and none of us caring to 

 tackle the brook again, we had to retrace our steps, and lost sight of the 

 hounds altogether ; but we could hear them running by Sewalds Hall, and, 

 with better luck than we deserved, we nicked in with them as they swept 

 back full cry past Wynter's Grange, with the Master, Mr. Hart, and Mr. 

 G. Sewell in close attendance. 

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