1898] MR. BLOUNT'S FOXES. 265 



mind, turned right-lianded again. They ran him up to Rigg's Lane, between 

 Vernon's Oak and Marston-Montgomery, where he beat them. The afternoon 

 was spent in hustHng foxes about the Doveridge coverts, where, thanks to Mr. 

 Brace's fostering care, there was a good show. There was never anythmg hke a 

 good scent, and the pursued had always the advantage over his pursuers. 



Tuesday was ushered in by a sharp frost, but this did not prevent a goodly 

 muster at Bramshall, a fixture which wOl always be associated with the great run 

 to Moddershall Oaks on the wettest day on record. No such luck, however, was 

 in store for us to-day. There was a wonderful show of foxes, thanks to that best 

 of sportsmen, Mr. Blount, who loves to see his neighbours enjoying a sport in 

 which he himself does not actively participate. Would there were more like him. 

 He had the satisfaction of viewing away no less than four foxes from Carry Coppice 

 to-day. However, though this fox himself was in evidence, tlie scent he left behind 

 liim was but a negative quality. Philips' Gorse was the first draw, and the 

 fox made for Carry Coppice, whence a fox went away at the lower side towards 

 Loxley, and took them into the coveii by the road at the railway crossing. The 

 hounds just crossed the road in the direction of the Alder Car, but turned back 

 into the covert which they had just left, and could make nothing more of it. 

 They were taken back to Carry Coppice, and got a fox away at the Bramshall 

 end, and ran him to Philips' Gorse, where they caught him. Another visit to 

 Carry Coppice was productive of a brace of foxes, one of which went away at 

 the lower side, while the other was viewed away at the top— a rare great fox he 

 was too. Hounds got on to his line, and ran him across the green lane at the 

 top of the coppice, where some ardent spirits attempted and succeeded in 

 stemming the advancing tide of horsemen and jumping out— a by no means easy 

 task Their valour met with a poor reward, as the hounds turned left-handed 

 and they had to turn into the main Uttoxeter road, which the lane riders crossed 

 in front of them. Across the railway the hounds hunted very slowly, and so 

 left-handed, thanks to a farmer's friendly information, carried the line mto the 

 wood above Loxley Park, where they lost him. They found again in the wood 

 on the other side of the park, and ran fast with a fair scent, and a rare cry to 

 the Uttoxeter road near the Red Cow, and crossed the road. But they never 

 spoke to it over the road, and lost him. 



Thursday was a rough, cold morning, with snow lying in patches on the 

 fields and in the ditches. A small field for a Thursday, especially for such a 

 favourite fixture, met hounds at Radburne. It was a great pity that the weather 

 was not more propitious for the welcome home on the part of the Hunt to the 

 popular squire and his bride. But even if the weather did fail in its duty the 

 famous Rough was as staunch as ever, and held a leash of foxes. Hounds settled 

 on to one, which went away for Trusley, with only a moderate scent, and it wants 

 a good one to make the brook of that name inviting. To-day the dark stream 

 flowing sluggish and idle was far from alluring, and its river-god must have smiled 

 at the havoc which its appearance made amongst the semed ranks of half-hearted 

 steeds and hesitating riders. But the brook and its dangers were braved never- 

 theless, yet to small purpose, for before Trusley village was gained scent had 

 dwindled away to nothing, and our fox lives to run another day. Pildock Wood, 

 Common Nurseries, and Potlucks proved tenantless, but Sutton Gorse furnished a 

 fox, on whose line hounds could only potter along, and, perhaps changing, they 

 drifted back to Sutton Gorse, where they left him. They found again in Bearward- 

 cote osier-bed, and pushed him out as if he was going for Burnaston, but, being 

 headed on the top of the hill, he turned back to the left of Etwall, where they lost 

 him, thus ending a disappointing day. 



