1892] THE FOX CROSSES THE TRENT. 189 



" Elvaston Castle. A thick fog prevented liounds throwing 

 off at the usual hour, but at 11.45, as it had lifted slightly. 

 Lord Harrington, in the Master's absence, gave the order 

 for the withy bed, where a fox was found at once, and, 

 skirting the gardens, he took us at a good pace across the 

 polo-ground, and away over the Borrowash lane, as if for 

 Billington Hall, but leaving this covert on the right, he 

 crossed the Shardlow and Ambaston lane, and leavino- 

 Shardlow Hall just on the right, made straight for the 

 river Derwent, and it looked as if we might be in for an 

 invasion of the South Notts, country, but a drain, almost 

 on the river bank, proved too tempting a hiding-place, and 

 there we had to leave him after a very nice run of thirty- 

 five minutes. The Aston coverts are proverbial for 

 holding a great number of foxes early in the season, and 

 then, later on, failing to keep up their reputation, but, if 

 to-day is to be any criterion, they need fear no such 

 reproach being put upon them, as no sooner were hounds 

 away with a fox from the long plantation than there were 

 three distinct lines in the direction of Chellaston. Hounds, 

 however, were not allowed to divide, and ultimately, after 

 a short check near the Plaster Pit Covert, ran back to the 

 starting-point, and then away, over the Midland Railway, 

 as if for Weston Cliff. Before reaching this point the fox 

 swung sharp to the left, and, boldly facing the River 

 Trent, swam across to the Whyggs at Donington Park, a 

 proceeding which had the effect of considerably lessening 

 the field, as the ford at King's Mill, except to those who 

 know it well, is anything but enjoyable. Some thirty or 

 forty horsemen followed Mr. Holden's lead across, to find 

 hounds at fault in front of Lord Donington's house. 

 Hitting it off up the carriage drive, they ran out on the 

 Isley Watton side, and there this somewhat peculiar run 

 ended. I believe I am right in saying that this was the 

 first occasion that a fox has crossed the River Trent — 

 at least, I could hear of no one recollecting a previous 

 instance." 



Then frost and snow stopped hunting from December 



