48 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



some years ago, which, to the best of my abihty and as 

 well as my memory serves me, I will re-run. 



The meet was appointed at Gosford Bridge for eight 

 A.M., and at that hour a huge gathering of all sorts 

 and conditions of men were anxiously awaiting the ad- 

 vent of the M.O.H. and hounds, the latter being kennelled 

 near by. 



When the hounds were " thrown off " they " spoke " 

 immediately, and, with much scrambhng and husthng, 

 away we went, men, women, and children, all as keen 

 as mustard. Soon an overshoot was reached, and one of 

 the tiny broken-haired terriers (a Scotsman, if I re- 

 member rightly) which ran with the pack was washed 

 into the basin below. Some few minutes elapsed before 

 the terrier was rescued from the boiling torrent, and it 

 was not until some time had been spent in rubbing, 

 chafing, and administering a stimulant to him that he 

 recovered from his unpleasant bath ; and not until then 

 would the humane Master allow the hounds (which had 

 been whipped off) to be laid on again. 



Then, with a crash of music such as otterhounds alone 

 know how to play, the shaggy beauties went streaming 

 along once more, the field often a long meadow behind 

 their waving sterns ; but, thanks to the checks that so 

 often occur in this sport, through the otter having taken 

 to the water for a distance, or by some other manoeuvre 

 on his part, those of the field who could stay managed 

 to see most of the work done. 



For thirteen miles, " as the crow fhes," the field 



