222 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1896 



February 20tli was a memorable day, and tired all the 

 horses. Mr. "Johnny" Hargreaves, one of the hardest 

 men in England, rode his horse to a standstill before the 

 finish, and was left standing forlornly by his beaten steed. 

 As the hounds were going home, Charles said to Steve,. 

 "Never saw Mr. Fort on such a tired horse before." Yet 

 the Trusley brook was the last fence jumped, and the few 

 who had it all got over. They found at four o'clock at 

 Radburne Rough, and ran a ring, by Grange Fields, back 

 again, thirty minutes, very fast. Away they went by the 

 Duck pit, where Mr. Hargreave's horse stood still, on to 

 Bearwardcote in forty minutes. With diminished speed 

 they ran on to Grange Fields, when hounds were stopped 

 after running just sixty- three minutes. Though the run 

 was so crooked, it was so fast that it was voted excellent 

 fun, and had tried the capacities of a water-jumper to the 

 utmost. Only twenty-five started, and of these only 

 Mrs. Charrington, Messrs. Fort, Holland, Henry Boden, 

 Maynard, Peacocke, Caldecott, Charles, and Steve, were 

 at the finish. 



Field, February 29th, 1896 :— 



X'S ACCOUNT OF THE DAY'S RUN. 



Monday, 24th, Osmaston Manor. — The hour was advertised for eleven, but,, 

 in consequence of a sharp frost overnight, hounds did not come till noon. In the 

 mean time Sir Peter Walker's heavily-laden dining-room table was drawn, and 

 well responded to the call. Hounds first drew Shirley Park. There were a few 

 opening notes, but nothing very definite, and a fox slipped away unchallenged on 

 the Ednaston side ; when Charles was told of it we were drawing the last osier- 

 bed towards Wyaston, and there was no encouragement to go back to a cold line. 

 Mr. Fort, who was in command, then gave the order for Bradley Wood, in the 

 hope of finding our old acquaintance of three weeks ago, who took us by Ash- 

 bourne Green and Bradbourne Mill to Brassington Rocks. No sooner were 

 hounds in covert than our friend came out on the top side, close to Charles ; he 

 popped back, went out at the bottom end, and ran at best pace by Sturston Mill 

 to Ashbourne Green, straight on due north, leaving Knivetou on the right, to the 

 third milestone on the Ashbourne and Bakewell road ; here he ran the main road 

 for half a mile, and the pace slackened, or the fun would have been reserved for 

 the few who managed to get a good start from Bradley. Just before reaching 

 Bradbourne Mill he left the road on the left hand, and we thought we were again 

 bound for Dovedale, but at the mill he turned sharp right-handed, and up the 

 bottom of Havenhill Dale about half a mile ; opposite Bradbourne village he again 



