262 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 



well-watei-ed country truly, to judge by the rapidity with which brook succeeded 

 brook, and ditch followed ditch. As, indeed, a hard-riding sportsman from 

 Cheshire found to his cost, when his horse dropped his hind legs, and fierce as 

 an eagle his immediate follower swooped upon him. But there was scant time 

 to note such trifles as this with the Meynell bitches screaming after their fox 

 over the cream of Staftbrdshire. Still bearing to the left, they drove him past 

 Laurence Wood, and men began to wonder when this was going to end. For a 

 moment they lost sight of hounds, and when they caught them again on the top 

 of the ridge all was over. The fox and all trace of liim seemed to have dis- 

 appeared like magic. But, indeed, it was merry while it lasted — twenty minutes 

 all told — and sent every one home delighted with the first Tuesday in 

 Staffordshire. 



Exciting Incidents. 



Monday, November 7th, Darley Moor. A nice morning proved a welcome change 

 to the weather usually experienced at this bleak spot. Hounds found at once in the 

 Holly Wood, and rattled the cubs well in covert, but by extraordinary good luck 

 the latter contrived to save their brushes. After being headed more than once, 

 a fox eventually crossed the Ashbourne road into the gorse and out at the other 

 side with more than half the pack after him. They ran nicely up to the Norbury 

 road, where they were stopped, as the huntsman pinned his faith on the rest of 

 the pack, who were running a fox back on the right, which they eventually lost. 

 There was a good show of foxes, for which every one must feel gratified to Mr. 

 Harrison, who was out on foot evincing the greatest keenness. Mr. Brace had 

 the misfortune to get a nasty fall without, luckily, any serious effects to either 

 himself or his horse. The Norbury coverts were tried next. There was no lack 

 of foxes, which were well hustled about, thus bringing to an end a day which will 

 probably bear good fruit later on. Anyhow, tlie prospects of sport in the Monday 

 country are excellent. 



Ghartley, on Tuesday, attracted a goodly muster as usual, and no wonder, for 

 to ride about that grand, wild spot is attraction enough, even without hounds. 

 The latter never look more picturesque than when running across this ancient 

 chase, while the red coats throw patches of positive colour on the gold and yellow 

 of the bracken and gi-ass. There is yet another side to the question, though, and 

 bitter are the complaints of the dangers of galloping over a surface honeycombed 

 with rabbit-holes. It requires a handy horse, going with his hind legs well under 

 liim, to cross it in safety. Woe to the anchorite, as old Bunbury calls him, who 

 goes with his nose in the air and his fore feet well under him. Woe, too, to the 

 Iiard-pulling, hot-headed horse — or, at least, woe to his rider, for his sensations 

 will be the reverse of pleasant — until he reaches the wild, sporting country which 

 lies all round the park, and leaves the rabbit-holes behind him. A fox was soon 

 on foot in Handleasow Wood, and went away towards the park gate on the main 

 road, but, being headed, retraced his steps and went away at the Gratwich end. 

 He crossed the Blythe in the direction of Carry Coppice, and got to ground in a 

 pit-hole. Chartley Gorse held a fox as a matter of course, which ran into Hand- 

 leasow Wood, through it, and bore right-handed across the park and back again 

 into the wood, where the hounds caught him. A third fox was found in Frads- 

 well Heath, and the hounds ran best pace to Sherratt's Wood. One couple of 

 hounds slipped on with him across the lane which bounds that covert on the north, 

 without, however, escaping the vigilant eye of Charles Leedham, whose well- 

 known " fon-ard away " gave the office to the rest of the pack. They dashed 

 over the road, and lost no time in catching their leaders, and ran merrily for a bit 



