THE AMALGAMATIOl^. 38 



an hour, after — among other things — having swum across the 

 Colne. We were an hour and a half late for lock-up, and my 

 tutor, instead of taking a reasonable view of such an unavoidable 

 episode, sent me up to the Head Master. Dr. Hornby was full 

 of threats to stop the whole thing, but finally contented himself 

 with setting me the fifth Iliad to write out, thinking that this 

 would prevent my hunting the next half holiday. I did hunt 

 though, for my method of writing out this Iliad was as follows : 

 taking three pens sloped one over the other I sat up all night and 

 wrote out one-third of it. This I showed up at one o'clock the 

 next day at the Head Master's house, and never heard anything 

 more of the matter. 



** The farmers were extremely friendly, and indeed I only 

 recollect one who denied us permission to hunt over his land. 

 The original refusal was probably due to some misunderstanding ; 

 but the quarrel had been emphasized by the fact that the beagles 

 had, once or twice, run over his land after permission had been 

 withdrawn. In my two seasons, however, chiefly on F. A. 

 Curry's advice, we strictly respected his decision : with the 

 pleasing result that, I believe, before the commencement of the 

 next season, permission was again gladly given. 



" Half a century is a considerable time, and I am sure readers 

 will readily forgive my inability to recall any more episodes of 

 the season 1870-71." 



Under the mastership of F. Fenwick a wonderful day's sport 

 was enjoyed on Feb. 22nd, 1872, when no less than three hares 

 were killed within two hours. The meet was at Athens, and a 

 short time before the meet two hares had been seen to swim 

 the river from the Eton side, a striking proof that hares will 

 take to the water even when not pressed. Hounds were taken 

 over the weir bridge and both these hares were killed after short 

 runs, but the hunt of the day was yet to come. A hare was 

 found near Surley, and after a fast ringing hunt of 1 hour 

 10 minutes was rolled over in the open near Aldridge's. The 

 account of the run ends with the words : 



*' Thus it was 



* From a find to a run, 

 From a run to a view, 

 From a view to a kill 

 In the open.' " 



But the good runs are too numerous for selection to be easy, 

 and at any rate there is no great interest in the mere recounting 

 of a run. But this chapter cannot close without mention of the 



D 



