292 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



example, some ten yards to the left, encouraged belief in the 

 easy insignificance of the obstacle and, I am told, led to six 

 coins of varied value being paid for horsecatching in that 

 one pasture. In and out of the old muddy lane that right- 

 angles to the Watling-street. (The oldest reminiscence of my 

 hunting life, by the way, goes back to a view of Charles Payn 

 and Mr. Robt. Fellowes as they landed into that lane, all but 

 atop of a boy on a shaggy Shetland pony.) Opposite the gorse 

 of Hilmorton we would all gladly have ridden into the high road 

 through the white gates apparently placed on purpose. But 

 for some reason, unknown and regrettable, they were locked 

 and stapled and two lamentable holes had to be bored 

 through the fence into the highway, while one rider who went 

 on for a next gate was promptly hung up in a wire. tempora, 

 mores ! 



On with hounds, then past the edge of the covert, which to 

 the relief of the Master of the pack of to-morrow, was left 

 untouched. Five minutes' flutter, now, over the final fences and 

 the enticing brook of the Steeplechase Course to Mr. Muntz's 

 Spinney. Fifteen minutes thus far ; and this all the best 

 of the run. They hunted their fox to Lilbourne Gorse and 

 through it ; got up to him at the little Clifton Coverts, and 

 killed him in Clifton Village. 45 minutes in all 



For another they went to Kilworth Sticks and if you, 

 reader, have never seen men in a hurry, you should have been 

 there, when the Pytchley field rode for Walton Thorns. They 

 couldn't override hounds for the latter went away with one fox 

 while their destroyers were intent upon crowding to a gap in 

 pursuit of another, on the opposite side of the covert. And 

 once the bruise and turmoil of gateways was over, there was a 

 spread of energy and a display of haste that it is impossible to 

 realise or reproduce in the quiet moments of a non-hunting 

 day when the memory recalls but a dizzy struggle amid a 

 living torrent, and relies for reminder merely upon post- 

 blackened shins and face engraved as a gridiron. The country 

 was wide and the country was easy. But hounds were ahead 



