COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 191 



I found fault with him for this, and he appeared to 

 be very stupid and sulky. Next morning they were 

 to meet at Dedham Hill about twelve miles off. I 

 was at breakfast about three A.M. pitch dark when 

 I heard the hounds trot past pretty quick. I ran 

 out with Will Horton, my second horseman, got our 

 horses, and off we went ; did not know the way, and 

 followed them out of the village by our noses. It 

 was a fine fresh quiet morning. We never overtook 

 them till we got to the place of meeting. " Charm " 

 was standing with her head stuck out, covered with 

 foam, and all the hounds panting like to burst. 

 Found a lot of foxes in a bean-field and killed a 

 brace. 



Next day, Thursday, i3th, Charndon Wood. A 

 very wet day. Cross quite stupid. He thought they 

 had killed a fox in covert. He went in on foot and 

 came out after about half an hour wet to the skin, his 

 face all scratched, and his clothes torn, and on his 

 way home his pony shied, and he bundled over its 

 head. 



Saturday, Gravenhill. Cross quite off his head. 

 He trotted about view-holloaing in the opposite 

 direction to the hounds. I was obliged to take hold 

 of them myself, and killed a brace of cubs. On 

 getting home sent for the doctor, and told him he 

 must keep Cross in bed. 



I wrote to Dick Alkin to come and help me, and 

 he came at once, and asked the doctor at Nuneaton 

 if he would take care of Cross, as they had been 

 great friends in the Atherstone country. 



