The Foxhound. 6\ 



and no one near to assist them in hitting off the 

 lost Hne, for this hunting at the lakes is done on 

 foot — horses could not follow, nor mules either, 

 where men and hounds have to go. 



In March, 1892, the Coniston hounds, the Rev. 

 E. M. Reynolds, master, had an extraordinary run 

 in the neighbourhood of Troutbeck and Kent- 

 mere. They were either dragging or hunting 

 for over ten hours, in a terribly rough and wild 

 country, and their fox, dead beat and only just in 

 front of them, had his life saved by a severe storm 

 ' — the like of which is only known in the Lake 

 district — coming on, and effectually driving both 

 hunters and hounds off the mountains into the 

 valley. Although the finish was not far from kennels, 

 the hounds had been out for thirteen hours before 

 they were safe at home again. 



A notable run was that of the Mellbrake, in 

 February, 1896. Drawing Withop Woods, which 

 skirt the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, they 

 roused four foxes. The pack, small as it was 

 (twelve and a half couples), divided into four, three 

 'of which, after very good hunting runs, killed their 

 foxes ; the fourth lot went right away out of sight 

 and hearing, and, although hounds turned up at 

 their kennels towards night, it was not ascertained 

 whether they had killed their fox or not. Hounds 



