FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 173 



The next day his horse fell on his back into 

 a drain, and had to be drawn out with horses ; 

 the hounds meanwhile ran fast from the Garden 

 spinney near Bassets Pole, past Drayton and 

 Middleton to ground at Hopwas. 



A day or two later there is an insight into 

 the trials of the huntsman even of that period : 

 '' A most infernal scent, and some of the Derby- 

 shire sportsmen chose to hallo the hounds so 

 much that they would not settle." On another 

 occasion he says he was '' glad to give up for the 

 day, owing to a terrific confusion of scents (hounds 

 were running two foxes) and a most ungovernable 

 field, which brought us to repeated checks." 



'' January 20th. Burbage. — Eighteen couples; 

 tried all the coverts blank ; found in Kirkby Great 

 Wood; ran very quick up to Newbold Village, 

 the hounds pressing him hard ; he then turned 

 and we ran him back to Kirkby very much 

 blown, and killed him ; an old dog-fox. The first 

 twenty minutes very good; in all, forty-five 

 minutes. Tried the two gorses upon Newbold 

 Heath ; blank. Rode Houghton and Contract ; 

 Jack, Barley; Kit, Charlotte." 



On J anuary 27 th they found at Amington Decoy, 

 and ran fast to Statfold; the fox jumped the big 

 garden wall, and went on to Thorpe, eventually 

 being caught in the shrubberies ; an old dog-fox. 



