58 Random Recollections of the 



hounds were in a few minutes streaming 

 along to the left of Hough, where they pointed 

 east, and crossed the road between Hough and 

 Frieston to the Grantham and Lincoln rail- 

 way near Norman ton, where the fox was 

 headed by some workmen. Turning short 

 back, he re-crossed the road by Frieston, and 

 went through Beighton's Gorse, then bore 

 slightly to the right for Col. Packe's, at 

 Caythorpe. Here a hooked nosed pedlar, over- 

 come by excitement, led them astray by frantic 

 gestures and vociferations, as though his brain 

 was reeling, or reynard had interchanged 

 compliments by making a snap at his calves, 

 but as it turned out he had only seen the fox 

 going ahead some distance away. Cooper, 

 however, Avithout according his blessings, 

 helped hounds to work again, and they beauti- 

 fully hit off the line through Reeve's Covert, 

 steadily hunting on below Fulbeck. The pace 

 increased as the pack led their followers, who 

 were becoming scattered abroad all over the 

 country, very fast across the strong enclosures 

 of Leadenham low fields in the direction of 

 Wellingore. The gallant fox was not beaten 

 yet, and bore down by Broughton to within a 

 short distance of the covert ; but the leading 



