1893] THE GREAT MODDERSHALL OAKS RUN. 201 



afterwards. Mr. Fort himself was well in it all the way, 

 on Pit-a-pat, unless the writer's memory deceives him, 

 and Mrs. Fort on Ambassador. Mrs. Hartley was there on 

 Ladybird, a bay mare which carried her well in the great 

 hill run to Winster on January 29 th ; the " Squire," too, 

 and Mr. Peacock, and others, but not many. Somehow 

 they took the wrong road going back to draw Carry 

 Coppice, and it was decided to go.home, though it was only 

 two o'clock, and most people thought that was the best 

 place to draw. 



Then came a succession of good runs, though there 

 was nothing really remarkable till January 29th. Of 

 this " X " (Mr Waite, of Duffield, a good sportsman and old 

 follower of the Meynell) wrote an account in the Field. 



THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 



Extraordinary Run. 



The Meynell had a hard day's work on Monday, January 29th, 1894,^^011 is 

 certainly worth recording. Sunday night was wet and boisterous, but when we 

 met at Brailsford Bridge the snn shone brilliantly. There was a big meet, the 

 road being blocked with carriages. Brailsford Old Gorse having been cut down 

 at the end of last season, Mr. Fort gave the order for Ednaston. The first 

 covert was tenantless, so we went on to the withy-bed usually known as Bradley 

 Bottoms. As soon as hounds were thrown in, a fox went away at the top end, 

 and it was quickly evident scent was good. We went very fast, leaving Yeldersley 

 Rough on our left, to Bradley village, and still leaving the hall and pastures on 

 our left, crossed the HuUand and Ashbourne road, making straight for the Lime- 

 kiln Rough. Here he waited until hounds pushed him out at the bottom end, 

 when we expected to take the usual line to Bradley Wood, and, perhaps, on to 

 Shirley Park, but our fox boldly faced Atlow Whin— a very steep hill, which 

 made horses sob at a trot only. Fortunately, hounds greatly slackened their 

 pace whilst breasting the steepest part of the hill, but as soon as we reached 

 galloping ground the pace again improved. The line was perfectly straight 

 between Kniveton, with its hedges, on our left, and Hognaston, with its stone 

 walls, on our right. The walls at first sight looked anythmg but inviting, and 

 we managed to avoid most of them until we reached Brassington — a seven-mile 

 point in forty-five minutes — which it was evident was his aim when we left the 

 Lime-kilns. Only about twice in the last twenty-six years do I remember to 

 liave taken this line, and each time our fox has found safety in the rocks, which 

 jut out in bold masses on the sides and summit of a steep sugar-loaf hill. Hounds 

 worked very patiently to the top, where a few of the horsemen, who had left 

 their horses lower down, followed, and hastily consumed their sandwiches in the 

 bright sunshine. Our fox must have found his house closed, though we were 

 miles beyond the country which is stopped, and he went away without changing 

 the direction he had hitherto taken. 



