A RUN WITH THE BEAUFORT 139 



road again entered the vale, to Coombend, and passing 

 close by Dodington House, gained the wood by 

 Dodington Ash, and straight to Keynton Down, 

 skirting Sherril Bottom, which is a mile long 

 and contains several main earths ; running parallel with 

 it made a strong attempt to reach Keynton Wood, 

 when turning short up for the village succeeded in 

 making his point to Keynton Down Gorse, but was 

 pressed through and away over the Pucklechurch road 

 near the turnpike ; when leaving Tormarton on the 

 right they pulled him down one field from Dodington 

 Park wall. The latter run occupied one hour and 

 seventeen minutes, and the two united being two hours 

 and twelve minutes, the whole at a great pace, com- 

 pleted a very severe day's work. The lady pack did 

 the honours and were all up at the finish, but many 

 of the horses had declined before they had gone half 

 the distance. My friend observed that he never saw so 

 many really good horses completely beaten as he did 

 during the last run. The splendid condition of the 

 hounds has been a theme of universal admiration 

 throughout the season, and nothing short of the acme 

 of perfection would have enabled them to have tasted 

 their second fox on the severe day mentioned. 



