308 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189» 



being exchanged ; yet, as the poet sings, " Half is mirth and half is sorrow," for 

 do we not, one and all, miss many a face we would fain see amongst us once 

 more ? Had they been there they would have rejoiced with us, and, being 

 absent, they would not grudge us the sport that followed. Sudbury Coppice, of 

 course, held a fox, who went away across the Oak Lane, and hounds followed at 

 a good pace over the main Ashbourne road, opposite Cubley Lodge, and, swinging 

 left-handed, ran down to the Cubley brook near the mill. Without crossing the 

 brook they turned right-handed, and checked on the top of Boylestone Hill, 

 where hounds divided, a few couples going for Sapperton, while the huntsman, 

 with the main body, hunted a cold line to a point beyond Boylestone, where 

 scent failed. Coming back to the coppice, after a turn or two round the covert, 

 the fox went away on the Vernon's Oak side, ran through the Oak plantation, 

 and so out across Malcolmsley, right-handed over the Oak lane, to ground in the 

 coppice, where he defied all efforts to dislodge him. They found again in the 

 Alder Moor, and ran across the Twelve Acres farm to ground in Sudbury Park. 

 They found again in the Lake Banks, and killed. Finding another in the osiers 

 by the river, they ran to Smith's Gorse, whence a brace of fresh foxes went away, 

 while they ran their hunted fox back to the osiers. Being a stout-hearted custo- 

 mer, he swam the river boldly and set his head straight for the great earth at 

 Houndhill. But the gardener there, having a sporting soul, was one too many 

 for him, and stopped the earths just in time. So our friend went on his way 

 towards the woods, rejoicing or not, as the case may be. Meanwhile the first 

 whipper-in, not to be outdone by a fox, plunged equally boldly into the swollen 

 Dove in pursuit of the hounds, who had already swum the stream. After him 

 followed a lady [Mrs. Walter Boden], over whose horse's back the water swirled, 

 and a few others, all of whom got over in safety. Lower down a solitary horse- 

 man [Mr. Leonard Carlisle] essayed to cross by the lower ford, but ill-luck 

 attended his plucky attempt, for he and his horse parted company mid-way, 

 though they both emerged safely, in detachments, on the farther side. It is ill 

 swopping horses, say our Yankee cousins, in the middle of the stream. While 

 all this was happening in full view of those more prudent wights who preferred 

 the Sudbury bridge, an old hand [Mr. Peacock] had viewed another fox stealing 

 back from the river towards the Lake Banks. So the huntsman got hold of his 

 hounds, slipped back Avith them, chased his fox into the Lake Banks, and killed him 

 forthwith. To be strictly honest, it is necessary to add that there was a difference 

 of opinion on this point— many people asserting that the same fox crossed and re- 

 crossed the river, which reminds one of the story of Beckford and his huntsman. 

 The latter having made an unsuccessful cast, gave his master so many good reasons 

 why the fox ought to have gone where the huntsman supposed he had, that Beck- 

 ford laughingly remarked, that " if the fox was a fool that was not the man's fault." 



Tuesday, at Blithbury, resulted in the finding of many foxes, reminding us of 

 the palmy days when Mr. Crossman held sway in those parts, and one of a leash 

 in Eough Park led hounds a merry dance late in the afternoon to the big wood at 

 Wichnor, where they were stopped, and did not get back to kennels till seven 

 o'clock. 



On Thursday every one was, as usual, hospitably entertained at Padburne,. 

 and the Squire was full of the capital day his own hounds had had for their debut 

 for this season at Hopton on the Wednesday. Hounds drew the Sand Pit blank 

 but they found in the Potlucks, and ran to the fishpond in the park by the 

 rectory, and caught him, a result witli which i)erha]»s the human brigade had as 

 much to do as the canine. Common Nursery was tiien drawn, and held a brace, 

 one of which went away as far as the main road, where he was headed, and,. 



