52 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 



I^ORD MiDDLETON Mr. Cockbill and Zac Goddard were the only two 

 -I— * present at the finish. Mr. Holbech was the first to 

 come up, and was followed soon afterwards by Lord 

 Middleton, and a few others whose horses had not 

 quite come to a standstill. Mr. Bayzant rode very 

 hard to Barton, where he gave up. 

 A very different day was that experienced from 

 ay in a o^. Parnborough somewhere about the following year. 

 The morning was so foggy that the men out could not 

 recognise one another at the distance of two horses' 

 lengths. So thick was the morning that sport was 

 considered impossible, but the ardent Mr. Morant 

 Gale had come for sport, and sport he meant to 

 have, if it were by any means possible. He recom- 

 mended that those out should whistle to warn any one 

 approaching them of their whereabouts, and said, ** I 

 don't ever wish to see more than twice the length of 

 my horse before I leap." And then looking upwards, 

 ironically observed, "Anyone with a keen eye can see the 

 sky through this bit of a fog. Hoicks ! hoicks ! have 

 at 'em, my lads ! " To satisfy those who were clamour- 

 ing for sport. Lord Middleton threw into Mollington 

 Wood. No sooner had they entered than a fine dog 

 fox went briskly away. The hounds kept well together 

 at starting, followed by Mr. Morant Gale and Goddard. 

 When they reached Han well brook, Mr. Gale charged 

 it, but his horse did not attempt to jump, and both fell 

 into the water. At Han well Spinnies the hounds were 

 lost and became divided. The whole field were 

 riding in all directions, following the sound of any 

 one who might be before them. Towards four o'clock 

 as Goddard was returning along the Claydon road, he 

 heard some hounds growling at each other, and on 

 riding up to them, found they had killed their fox 

 and eaten all but his head. He alighted and took 

 the head from them, and with great difficulty, by 

 fastening the head to his whip, and trailing it along 



