110 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



hounds fairly if it be remembered that when the grass came 

 the fox had gone far ahead. We started in a snow storm, and 

 rode upwards to more and more snow and ice as if ascending a 

 mountain-side. But many others, from the Cottesmore, the 

 Quorn, and home country, did the same and the whole were 

 assembled under the auspices of the Duke (alas, only in his 

 carriage) before one o'clock. Two o'clock found us, and the 

 fox, at Coston Covert and there was once again the same 

 hurried, splashing start. It came to nothing, though, but a five 

 fields' ring back to covert. A second rather wider ring was in 

 progress, when another fox in view set the whole field in a glow 

 and this was the traveller. He nearly slipped them at 

 Wymondham by running a road ; but perseverance, and a 

 knowledge of the whereabouts of Woodwell Head, put this 

 all right, and his line was carried briskly on. But I have to 

 confess to the racegoers that, well worked and indefatigable 

 as was the onward progress, this was not a great occasion 

 missed. We should all have been in at the death, had there 

 been one and that there was not, was mainly due to the 

 day. In Ireland it would have been described as a " moighty 

 conversational hunt," Like harriers, we fling our tongues most 

 on a cold scent. On a hot one, we have little to say beyond 

 whispering soft nothings to heedless steeds and (have you ever 

 had occasion to notice ?) men always come at a big fence with 

 a set expression, always with their mouths open, and generally 

 with every feature awry. We jumped no big fences to-day 

 though we hunted for nearly two hours. But everybody jumped 

 little ones and as many as he or she could. 



A little field, but a field of class and talent churchmen, 

 soldiers, civilians, and farmers rode the run, welcomed all that 

 was put before them, and under some special care came to no 

 serious grief in snowdrift or on frosted bank though deep ground 

 and hard ground gave its evidence at every fence during the 

 second hour. 



