THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Either the foxes must have been more scarce than they now 

 are, to account for this trifling- amount of blood ; or, what I 

 think most probable, they were wilder and more difficult to kill 

 in Meynell's days, the country itself being wilder and more open 

 than it now is. 



' The kennels and stables at Quorn are superb, and you 

 must see them soon. Exclusive of boxes, there is one stable 

 which holds twenty-eight horses, and so contrived by a trifling 

 deviation from a right line, that, although all the horses 

 appear to stand in a row, the (juarters of each are to be seen 

 at either extremity of the building. A clean watering-bridle 

 hangs on the stall-post of each horse, and there is a patent 

 lamp between every six. This is all very fine as far as the 

 eye of man is concerned ; but for the welfare of the horses I 

 should prefer smaller stables, so as to divide the lot according 

 to their several necessities. Horses require a state of extreme 

 quiet at times, which they cannot enjoy in a stable occupied by 

 so many. Some require to be shod ; others are in physic, and 

 most go out more than once in the day : and many such 

 occurrences tend to disturb repose, which should be plentifully 

 allowed to hunters after hard days, as a great restorative of 

 their powers, as well as a preventive of fever.' 



Towards the close of the season, another letter was dispatched 

 by Frank Raby to his friend Hargrave, of which the following 

 is part : 



' My tour of hounds is now drawing to a conclusion ; but I 

 cannot wait till I see you for the pleasure of relating to you a 

 run I saw j'-esterday, in the Atherstone country. The beautiful 

 pack of bitches met at Sibson. The morning was immoder- 

 ately stormy, and, as far as human foresight extended, 

 perfectly inimical to scent and sport ; but the result proved 

 how fallible is human judgment ! We drew the wolds, and 

 Welsborough Gorse blank. We then proceeded to Sutton 

 Hambion, and the hounds had scarcely been in the cover a 

 minute before the electric sounds of " Tally-ho ! " — " Gone- 

 away ! " were audible, and the fox broke in the most gallant 

 style. The moment the hounds were laid on the scent, it was 

 evident we were in for a run ; and away they went, with heads 

 up, and sterns down, to Bosworth, where the hounds, and a 

 few of the flrst-flight men, got a view of the fox. It was 

 but a peep, however, and away we went again, the hounds 



357 



