1899] A GOOD DAY FROM FOSTON. 279 



and requiring no help, and then swung left-handed over the Sudbury- Ashbourne 

 road, across the wild, grassy fields by Malcomsley, with only four men actually 

 with them, for most people had to ride cunning by this time. Crossing Rigg's 

 Lane, they chattered merrily along the snug-lying dingle below Mr. Peacock's house 

 at Vernon's Oak, where a black spaniel did not help matters by running the line 

 of the fox. Over the deep banks of the lane from the Oak to Somersal they 

 swarmed, and ran slowly down to Sudbury Coppice, where they checked. Here 

 the " black author of the mischief " was seen sneaking off, and hounds hit oft~ 

 the line again across the Oak Lane, Over Mr. Peacock's farm they hunted till 

 they crossed the main Sudbury-Ashbourne road, and checked at the gravel-pit at 

 Cubley Lodge. Here all but three men and the servants left them, their horses 

 having had quantum sufficit. But hounds ran on past Cubley Rectory, nearly 

 up to Cubley Gorse, where they were with difficulty stopped, after ninning an 

 hour and fifty minutes. The best run of the season was the unanimous enthusi- 

 astic verdict. If it was not against the writer's principles he would like to give 

 the names of the two who, by common consent, went best throughout this good 

 run, but, like good sportsmen, 



"They care not one jot for the fame. 

 But ride for the fun of the game. 

 If each in his heart was well pleased with his part. 

 What boots it to mention a name?" 



Tuesday found a moderate-sized field sitting in a downpour of rain at Birch- 

 wood Park, but, alas ! the old adage of " more splash, more sport," was not 

 verified. Hounds soon found a fox in Birch Wood, who, being headed by some 

 people who had posted themselves at the point where he was most likely to 

 break away, turned back and promptly went to ground in the main earth. 

 Hounds immediately got on the line of another, who crossed the road which 

 skirts the wood, into a country bristling with wire, and turning right-handed, 

 ran to ground a few minutes later in a pit-hole near Milwich. They found again 

 in Fradswell dingles and ran him into Birchwood to ground not fifty yards from 

 where the first fox got in. Evidently the earth-stopper had no relish for his 

 task on the rough night preceding, but it is impossible for hoimds to show 

 sport and kill foxes if this most important matter is not attended to. 



"Hounds stout and horses healthy, 

 Earths well stop't and foxes plenty." 



was a time-honoured Oxford toast, but of what use are the three essentials if the 

 fourth is omitted. Chartley Gorse was drawn blank, but they found in one of 

 the outside coverts, and ran slowly a half circle to ground again. After an 

 unsuccessful attempt to dig him out, Chartley Moss was drawn and held a brace 

 of foxes. One went away towards Newton Gorse with two couples of hounds 

 after him, but unluckily the main body were hunting another in the Moss, This 

 fox, however, could be done nothing with, and homids went home. 



Thursday at Kedleston Toll Bar was about as rough and disagreeable a day 

 as could well be imagined. Hounds drew Darley osiers (famous for more than 

 one good run in times past) blank, but found a fox at Allestree, and after running 

 round and round, a heavy storm came on and obliterated what little scent there 

 was. They then drew Colvile Wood blank, but found at Farnah and ran 

 through Champion Car. Thence they crossed over the road, and, turning left- 

 handed, got back to Farnah, From there they ran nicely for a few fields right- 

 handed, leaving Duffield on their left, to Colvile Wood, where the fox got to 



