76 THE COMPLETE FOXHUNTER 



it was some four or five miles from Ledbury, and on the 

 occasion referred to only about six or seven riders 

 turned up. It was soft enough in the big covert, and 

 as foxes generally preferred to stick to their native place 

 hounds were allowed to draw. This time they almost 

 at once found a travelling fox, who took them into the 

 North Hereford country, passing by a covert named 

 (if memory serves) Cowarne Gorse. We then turned 

 southwards, and ran to Stoke Edith, and here we think 

 Mr. Morrell tried to stop hounds, as they were a long 

 way from home (by this time in the South Hereford 

 country), but there was a great scent, and hounds got 

 away from Stoke Edith and ran to Holme Lacey, on the 

 banks of the Wye, where they killed their fox at dusk. 

 This was the run of the season, probably of many 

 seasons in that country, and we only remember that 

 Mr. Morrell, the late Dr. Sheward, of Malvern Wells, 

 and a Mr. Mason— who was then agent for Lady Emily 

 Foley at Stoke Edith — lasted on to the end, and so long 

 ago is it that we are not actually clear as to the particu- 

 lars. The hunt, however, may be quoted as a striking 

 instance of the good run from what was considered 

 a bad place, and in this connection mention of it is not 

 out of place. 



Then, again, it may be stated with confidence that if 

 a master hunts a country impartially he will be a gainer 

 in the end. He may at times have to break through 

 his rules, but the fact that he is acting fairly by good 

 and bad parts alike will be quickly recognised and 

 appreciated, and he will find that fox preservation and 

 stopping are better looked after when the country is 

 being hunted on a regular system. There is nothing 

 so bad for any country as the absence of a system. The 

 average member of every hunt should be able to guess 



