BkIvVOir Hunt. 67 



was on foot. Reynard was not long in making 

 a dash in front of the field over some ploughed 

 soil on the south. A rush at the first fence levelled 

 several of the foremost, with spreading of eager 

 spirits as hounds rattled along to the right of 

 Coston, crossed the brook, and ran up-hill 

 pointing for Stapleford. The fox, a veteran 

 who had probably travelled that way many a 

 time before, was met by a countryman at the 

 fir plantation, and altered his tactics by chang- 

 ing direction to the right. At the brook,, 

 struggles and scrimmages began in earnest — 

 some got over, others in, with the noble Duke 

 amongst those enjoying a ducking. The field 

 was scattered far and wide in hot pursuit, with 

 "Gillard and a select party leading the van over 

 the hill between Garthorpe and Saxby. The 

 pace was maintained across grass towards 

 Freeby, an inclination westward bringing them 

 to the wood. Several of the unfortunates joined 

 issue here, but two foxes being disturbed did 

 not contribute to the continuance of what had 

 been a capital thing, as scent became colder, 

 and hounds could only trace a faint line past 

 Brentingby Spinney. Going down the hill 

 from the fir plantation. Lord Coventry came 

 to grief over a nasty fence, which, though 



