2 22 iRiMno IRecoUcctions an^ Unvt Stories 



and did not ride much himself, I had a pretty good 

 time. I hunted with Mr. Tailby's hounds twice a 

 week — Thursday and Saturday ; whilst Mr. Watson 

 had a pack of harriers at Rockingham Castle, close 

 by, which hunted three days a fortnight, and capital 

 fun it was. The only drawback was that the country 

 was a bit too big for most of the people who came 

 out ; and many a time I have had the hounds to 

 myself, and really enjoyed it. There was the 

 Pytchley also, always within reach once a week. 

 In the cub-hunting season and latter end of the year 

 the meets were quite close ; there was no Woodland 

 Pytchley pack then ; but the hounds stayed at Brig- 

 stock at the beginning and the end of the season. 

 Years ago, in old Charles Payne's time, I remember 

 finding a fox at Rockingham Wood, and running 

 him along the side of the hill nearly to Gretton, 

 when he turned to the left over the river Welland 

 and the railroad between Harborough and Stamford 

 — luckily we were near the road, which we got on 

 to, and crossed both river and line — by Liddington, 

 and killed close to Stoke End, This happened before 

 we knew what wire-fencing was. I wonder how any- 

 one would try to ride that line now ? They would 

 have to get into the road and stick to it, as it is 

 wire the whole way. 



