i82 THE COMPLETE FOXHUNTER 



it was only moderate, but what is written about the 

 afternoon causes us to remember exactly what took 

 place. Hounds got a fox away from Cutandly Wood, 

 and ran to Home, and thence northwards almost to 

 South Hale, but they turned towards the Brighton 

 railway, and as far as we remember the fox got to 

 ground either under or close to the line, but of that we 

 are not sure. Our friend, who came to grief at a brook 

 early in the run, was much impressed, and declared it 

 was the best gallop he had had that season. Anyhow 

 the line followed was a good one, and in those days 

 that part of the country was fairly free from wire. 



Unfortunately the whole of the Burstow country is 

 not like the Vale, for when once the Sussex border is 

 reached big woodlands are very numerous, and in- 

 cluded in these is Ashdown Forest. Perhaps the most 

 central place of residence in the hunt is East Grinstead, 

 but if any one wishes to be with these hounds in their 

 best country only, the neighbourhoods of Reigate, 

 Horley, or Lingfield would do equally well, and other 

 packs could also be reached. Saturday is the great 

 day with the Burstow, when the field is four times as 

 large as that of Wednesday, and the hunting is always 

 in the Vale. To give some idea of a really good day 

 in the Vale we may go back some twelve years, to the 

 last day the late Mr. Gerard Hoare (master from 1881 

 to 1896, and huntsman for fourteen years prior to 1881) 

 was out with these hounds. The meet was at Lingfield, 

 and a fox was found in the copse which is situated in 

 the centre of the racecourse. It crossed the brook, and 

 hounds got away by themselves, the field being held 

 up by wire a field or two beyond the racecourse boun- 

 dary. This was perhaps a good thing, for hounds 

 were able to settle to their fox, and when the front rank 



