224 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1896 



occasion being ^Monday, Februaiy 24th, when we lost him at Elton village. 

 There had been rumours that a keeper, the same afternoon, saw what he thought 

 to be a mad dog with its tongue hanging out. As the muzzling order is in force 

 in that district, he forthwith shot it, and then discovered it was a hunted fox ! 

 It is, unfortunately, confirmed by a letter from the keeper to Mr. Fort, that he 

 Khot a fox that afternoon within a mile of where we lost him, close to a well- 

 known rabbit warren ; but he states he had no idea at the time it was a hunted 

 fox, and it must be admitted the locality is far away from any meet of the 

 hounds. There remains just a hope that it may not have been our stout-hearted 

 friend, but we shall know on Monday next, when we again meet at Osmaston 

 Manor. 



To return to Thursday, 5th, we found at once in Bumaston Gorse (soon to be 

 cut down and added to Burton Sewage Farm), ran very fast through Bumaston, 

 crossed the Derby and Uttoxeter road near Etwall Cheese Factory, on to the 

 Ashe, and nearly to Sutton-on-the-llill, turned left-handed to Hilton, and forward 

 to Egginton Gorse, to this point one of the best thirty-seven minutes of the 

 season. He was quickly away from Egginton, across the sewage farm, and close 

 to Bumaston Gorse, where we found him, but did not enter, keeping on past 

 Bumaston Hall, south of Mickleover Asylum, across the meadows towards the 

 Pastures, leaving Mickleover village on the left, and was eventually given up 

 close to Littleover, after ninety minutes over a splendid line of country. 

 We afterwards heard that he went on to Old Norraanton village, and was seen 

 barely able to crawl ; he was a right good fox, and deserved to save his brush. 

 Foimd an afternoon fox in Hell Meadows Covert, ran across a good line towards 

 Etwall, and killed, after a fairly good run, at the foot of a steep bank he was 

 unable to climb, near the Ashe. It may be mentioned that the wind was all 

 day blowing nearly a hurricane, but hounds seemed able to run equally fast xi\) 

 or down wind, and gave us a splendid day's sport. 



Monday, 9th, Osmaston Manor. Our worst fears as to the fate of our hill fox 

 appear to be realized ; all his old haunts were visited , but found tenantless. 

 Hounds did not find till we got to Reeve's Moor, Longford ; ran from there to 

 Longford Car, where we disturbed two others — not much done. 



Thursday, 12th, Dalbury Lees. Boden's Thorns and Parson's Gorse did not 

 respond. Three foxes were found in Radburne Rough ; one paid the penalty, 

 another gave a good fifty minutes' run, though not a very straight one, by 

 Langley Common, Parson's Gorse, back to Langley, and was eventually lost near 

 Nun's Fields. Sutton Gorse, usually a safe find, was empty, but Mr. Newton 

 had tidings of one in a newly-made stick heap at Dalbury, and after much 

 persuasion he was forced to quit, and ran as if Radburne was his point, but he 

 turned towards Bearwardcote on to Etwall Gas Works, Highfields, nearly to 

 Sutton Gorse, then turned due north and at a very good pace up to Radburne 

 Comer, near Old Park House. It was now past five o'clock, and I am unable to 

 say how the run finished. 



X. 



They ran to Rookliills, back, by Dalbury, to the 

 Duck pit, and so, by Dalbury again, nearly to the Rough, 

 where they lost him. So " X " did not lose much. He is to 

 the fore asfain soon after with an excellent account of 



