160 



THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 



Mr 

 1866-1876 



Two incidents. 



H. Spencer them about an hour's excellent work to bring about 

 that end. Two exceptional incidents I may mention 

 in connection with the run before leaving it. The 

 first is that the mask was given to a plucky boy, the 

 son of Mr. Hiron, of Shipston, who, knowing the 

 country well, started from Mitford Bridge, on foot, 

 cut the hounds off without heading them at every 

 turn, and was at the finish very little beaten. The 

 other was that a lady, who, capitally mounted, rode 

 with a lot of dash, always in the front rank, in spite 

 of stiff fences and a good deal of plough, was first 

 up at the death, and then — mirabile dictu — refused the 

 preferred brush. 



The sort of run which tries the mettle of the steeds 

 was that which followed the opening meet of the 

 season 1874-5. Mr. Bolton King most sumptuously 

 entertained the field, and about mid-day a fox was 

 found, and gave them a ring over a good country and 

 lasting for two hours, which ended in Chesterton 

 Wood. 



The sport of 1874-5 was sadly interfered with by 

 the fox-hunter's arch-enemy. King Frost. A few lines, 

 written about the season in Leicestershire may be given 

 as showing the general state of affairs during the 

 season : — 



good opening:. 



King Frost. 



November's first day saw a run ; 



The rest of November saw none ; 



All December in frost. 



Half January lost, 



Ere hunting had fairly begun. 



The sport then for three weeks was rare, 



Rarer soon till it vanished in air ; 



Three weeks more of snow, 



Till the March wind did blow. 



And the end of the chase was despair. 



I think my readers can scarcely fail to be struck with 

 the adequate description these lines also give of the 

 season just past (1890-1). 



