266 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [18G8 



while the fresh varmint raced up the brook course in front 

 of Keclleston Hall, clean through the Park, inclining 

 towards Vicar Wood on his left. 



"He ran into view at Langley village, and, from that 

 point, it was clear he was making for his home in the 

 hills ; alas ! no more his home. His line was by Mercaston, 

 Mercaston Stoop, leaving Mansell Park on the right, 

 Bradley on the left, under Hullaud, Hulland Ward to the 

 left, crossed the Belper road and down the valley by 

 Biggin, leaving Idridge Hay on the right, forward to 

 Blackwall House, where Tom again viewed the fox, with 

 his ladies, twenty couple, one only missing, close at his 

 brush. But here, alas ! Tom's part was done. His horse, 

 the Knight, staggered, dropped, and died. He had 

 carried him brilliantly, and never, in more than forty 

 years that we have watched this gallant and judicious 

 horseman, have we seen him ride to his hounds with more 

 spirit, skill, and care. The hounds, however, careless of 

 their master's troubles, still pursued their sinking game 

 through Blackwall Wood, where, despairing of shelter in 

 his native hills, he retraced his steps down the valley for 

 Biggin Mill, and came to bay under a hollybush. Here 

 Einglet singly attacked him, and, with Mr. Charles Eaton, 

 a good farmer and gallant sportsman, to back her, finished 

 one of the greatest runs we have ever seen recorded. The 

 time was a few minutes over four hours, and the line 

 of run exceeded thirty -two miles. The distance between 

 extreme points was fourteen miles. The pace throughout 

 was extraordinary for the distance, and, as there were few 

 second horsemen, it is not surprising that the party at 

 the finish was unusually small. Sir Thomas Gresley, Mr. 

 George Moore, jun., Mr. Charles Eaton, Miss Meynell, 

 Hon. A. Strutt, and Mr. Bass composed the field and sung 

 the who-whoop. Seven and a half couples of hounds were 

 in at the death, nine couples were called away to a false 

 halloa towards Atlow, and Mr. N. Curzon, Miss G. Meynell, 

 and Mr. Travers, who, till that point, had been with hounds, 

 took them home. No one will wonder that even such men 



