FROM BRAUNSTON GORSE AT LAST. 221 



liounds favoured by the recent turn, and almost within view of 

 their fox, when, for the third time, they spun over the brook. 

 A shaking fall is no fitting preparation for horse or man when 

 water, however insignificant, has to be encountered. This was 

 but a meagre rivulet, scarce a horse's length across. But two 

 couple of the blown ones scotched and plunged in (Oh, " I slip, 

 I slide, I gloom, I glance,") and the example was immediately 

 followed by another, and yet others till the miserable mud- 

 stream was full as a wash-pit at sheep-shearing. The Hunt, 

 meanwhile, left these "waders in the surf, waist deep in 

 meadow sweet," and careered forward for Shuckburgh. Why 

 this fox failed to reach such haven is a matter of speculation, if 

 not of indifference. Nay, it was much better that he should 

 not have gained the hill and its open earths ; for, turning 

 short within two fields of it, he had only to retrace his steps 

 -and give his followers much the same cheerful quarter hour 

 back. So they leaped the now pigmy stream a fourth time, 

 on this occasion much nearer to Staverton, and galloped the 

 south side of the valley on the return journey to Braunston 

 Gorse. Hereabouts they had the bad luck to change from a 

 thoroughly beaten fox to a fresh one. Scent altered at once ; 

 and they could scarcely follow the line to Bragborough. But 

 those bustling thirty minutes had surely been as replete with 

 fun as any half-hour in this most mollerate season. And now I 

 will put many of my comrades, and myself, to very shame. A 

 ten-summer boy rode forth to-day on a shaggy yellow pony 

 and the latter will complete his third year only when the 

 paddock in which he runs ungroomed has arrived at what is 

 known as " this grass." His father's spurs he had girded on 

 big steel prongs that might serve a mahout, or do duty on off 

 days for toasting forks. In addition, he wielded a short ash 

 plant, and was actuated by an instinctive and indigenous love 

 of the sport. Armed with these, he followed the hunt throughout 

 and actually jumped the Braunston Brook three times ! His 

 name is Allen, and his place of birth and residence is Weedon 

 where you can easily verify the above improbable, but ab- 

 solutely correct, statement. 



