1890] A DERBYSHIRE SCURRY. 163 



their heads, running almost mute, for Barton and the 

 Fishpond Covert by the house. But the pace was too hot 

 for him to dwell a moment, and the fox was out at one 

 end as they came in at the other and drove like a hail- 

 storm straight to Potter's, over the lane nearly to Sapper- 

 ton, where he was headed, and, turning short back, caused 

 a check. Not for long, though. Their blood was up, and 

 one swift cast on their own account recovered the line, and 

 ofl' they went at score, running hard for Longford and its 

 open earths. The check just saved him, and he got in 

 with nothing to spare. It was but a scurry, but surely it 

 was very sweet, and the Meltonians pleaded for just one 

 day more in Derbyshire. But the Master was stern, and 

 only bade them come hunt with him in Bagot's woods, as 

 the " Good nights " fell from half-reluctant lips. Was it 

 any better, or half as good, as that Sudbury-Snelston 

 gallop ? Perhaps not, but what man of us is there who 

 does not say the old wine is the best ? The poet may 

 say — 



" And life is short, and love is life, 

 And so the tale is told, 

 Though the new wine, the new wine. 

 It tasteth like the old." 



But does it ? 



However, when the old wine fails, we must turn to the 

 new. If we cannot have Chateau Lafitte we must e'en 

 make the best of viri ordinaire. And so the next good 

 thing in this particular year was a good point on February 

 25th. This was from Chartley Gorse to beyond Modders- 

 hall Oaks, about ten miles, but towards the end there were 

 two foxes in front of them and a dwindling scent. An 

 hour and a quarter. 



Two days afterwards, on the 27th, every one enjoyed a 

 good hunting run of an hour and fifty minutes, except 

 those who went to the Lilies to refresh the inner man, and 

 lost it. This pandering to the cravings of Nature is rather 

 a failing with the Meynell field. Tom, and his nephew 

 Charles, took a delight in finding a fox quickly and getting 



