THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 



185 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



Some sport of recent years— frosty 

 accident to lord willoughby. 



SEASONS— 



What an old sportsman called the best thing he 

 had known for twenty years, was the day which "the 

 Warwickshire " commenced at Bitham House, on 

 Friday, December 21, 1883. Like many other days 

 which have earned an excellent character, it was the 

 work of the after-part which gave it. There was a 

 large field and, in the words of the song, it was *'a 

 beautiful hunting morning," Reynard was found at 

 home in an adjacent covert, and across the hill he 

 went with Fenny Compton as his point. He was, 

 however, soon headed, and turned sharp to the left 

 into covert. The hounds were soon on the line again, 

 and a capital gallop began in earnest in the direc- 

 tion of Northend, over a beautiful country. Still bear- 

 ing to the left they pushed him along the railway, 

 skirting which he came over the road and bore round 

 for Miller's Grorse. This, however, he did not enter, 

 but reached Page's Gorse, which provided him 

 with an effective refuge. This was the end of the 

 first chapter of the day, and although it was a good 

 one, better things were in store in the second, 

 which opened immediately afterwards in White's 

 Bushes. Breaking away from here they ran straight 

 for Miller's Gorse, but he did not reach this, as he 

 turned to the right, and crossing the road went away 

 for Arlescote. This was comparatively slow hunting, 



A good day from 

 Avon Dassett. 



A capital line 

 from White's 

 Bushes. 



