THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



and stiff, and on the other side was a green lane, the sides of 

 which were covered with gorse, so as to render it impossible 

 to see what kind of ground the said gorse concealed. It was, 

 however, evident that it was of a very uneven description, 

 together with the certainty that, from what could be seen in 

 the middle of it, the entire lane was cut up by deep waggon 

 ruts, and, moreover, the drop into it was considerable. Eleven 

 of us, then in front, came up to this fence, but not one of us 

 liked it. The twelfth was Lord Foley, on a thorough-l)red 

 horse, which had been one of the best plate horses of his day, 

 and, without pulling him out of his stroke, at it he went ; and 

 although he floundered a little on landing, he kept his legs, and 

 went on. Here the red had it, for Lord Foley got the lead, 

 although there were a few on the right who were nearly on as 

 good terms as his Lordship was. It was gallantly done, how- 

 ever, and due praise was given both to the rider and his horse. 

 We all got over this fence, but could not catch Foley till we 

 came to the first check. And how were matters here ? Why, 

 strange to say, there were seventeen of one Hunt, and fifteen of 

 the other, well up, but the majority were in orange ! " How is 

 this?" inquired one, who was becoming somewhat sanguine on 

 the occasion. " They knew of a better place than we did, over 

 the brook and across the ozier-bed," replied one of the couleur 

 de rose, " but they ride devilish well." 



' The science of Sam Lawley, whose eye had been on his 

 hounds when they checked, soon put matters to rights, and 

 before many of the stragglers had come up, we were all at 

 work again. But to make short of my story, as far as the run 

 is concerned. Our fox led us over a beautiful country ; and, 

 within two fields of Aylestone gorse, on the other side the road 

 leading from Leicester to Lutterworth, we ran into him in the 

 middle of a large field — distance about twelve miles as the crow 

 flies. " And who saw the finish ? " I think I hear you eagerly 

 exclaim. Not m.any, for the pace had been severe from first to 

 last ; and the fox went so straight, that few chances were given 

 to those who looked out for a nick. But the colours of the 

 coats ! You will be equally curious on this point. I will soon 

 satisfy your curiosity. There were eleven Quornites and eight 

 Vernonites well with them at the end, and about an equal 

 number of each — say a dozen or fifteen — in not a bad ]3lace. 

 Fine horsemansliip was displayed on each side ; and it struck 



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