342 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901 



but, as every one knows, more foxes are lost just at the start and at the finish 

 of a run than at any other time. Nothing much was done afterwards. 



Monday, January 21st, Ashbourne Station. This was a nice, promising 

 hunting morning, nor did subsequent events behe the promise, for there was a 

 tsccnt all day, though luck was against us. Hounds found in Bradley Wood, and 

 ran out a short way towards Osmaston, when the fox was headed, and nothing 

 more was done with him, though the Wood was tried again unsuccessfully. Then 

 they found again in Bradley Rough, but the fox had no chance of doing great 

 things, as every hill was lined with spectators. So hounds ran a ring sharply 

 out towards Osmaston, and then left-handed back to the Rough, from there to the 

 similar covert near it, of which the \vriter does not know the name. From here 

 they ran back to the Rough, whence the fox was viewed away and was halloaed 

 by horsemen some distance off' on the next hill across the bottom, but, somehow 

 or other, hounds did not get on his line, and he was given up. They got away 

 on capital terms with a fox from the historic osier-beds, near Ednaston, whence 

 the great Winster run started, and ran like blazes for twelve minutes, straight on 

 end to Bradley Wood, and caught their fox handsomely just at the top of the 

 covert, outside. The dog-hounds made horses gallop, and no mistake. Then 

 they found in Shirley Park, and ran best pace, up-wind, to ground in the main 

 earths by the bridle-road. Had these only been stopped, they would have made 

 things very interesting for the fox. Finney Plantation was blank, and so was 

 Reeve's Moor, but a little fox went away from the Car into the gardens, where 

 lie was headed more than once and had a rare game with the hounds, once 

 actually jumping on to a window-sill, whence he skipped over the expectant pack 

 and escaped. Finally, in spite of obstructions, he slipped through to the Car and 

 got to ground. They then went to Alkmonton Bottoms, and there was a stale 

 line in the direction of Longford. 



Tuesday, Newton Village. This was a lovely day to ride about, and to 

 enjoy the beauty of Cannock Chace and its surroundings, which showed to the 

 greatest advantage, lit up by the fitful gleams of pale January sunshine, but from 

 a hunting point of view there was not much to see. Coley Gorse held a fox, 

 who was headed once or twice, and then disappeared. The Bishton coverts 

 were all blank, and so were Spencer's Plantation, Blith field Gorse, Walker's 

 Springs, the Gardens, and Blithe Moor, but Duckley Wood held a brace, one of 

 which went across to the Square Covert, while the other broke away in the 

 opposite direction. Crossing the main road, hounds ran fast over Mr. Cottrill's 

 farm, bearing left-handed till they came to the lane from Yeatsall to Abbots 

 Bromley, where they checked for a moment, but a lady, holding her pet dog in 

 her arms for safety, showed us exactly where the fox had gone, so no time was 

 lost. After crossmg the lane, hounds ran merrily to Abbots Bromley down- 

 wind, and there seemed every chance of a good run, but, unluckily, the fox was 

 headed one field beyond the village, and turned back. 



" Thro' every homestall, and thro' every yard, 

 His midnight walks, panting, forlorn, he flies." 

 Not that he was exactly panting or forlorn, so those adjectives do not apply so 

 well as the first part of the quotation. That, however, fairly describes his 

 progress through Abbots Bromley, to the great excitement of the inhabitants. 

 Having amused them sufficiently, he ensconced himself in the earth in Duckley 

 Wood, close to which he was found at the start The Square Covert, Stansley 

 Wood, Kingston Wood, and Ash Croft having been drawn blank, hounds went 

 home, and at night came the sad news of our national loss [the death of the 

 Queen], which -will naturally put an end to hunting for some time. 



