BREAKING THE ICE. 307 



hedge, and a pause at a gate while the huntsman comes up 

 from the wood and the game is fairly set going. Now we are 

 for Badby Wood ; but a " muck cart," as Northamptonshire 

 would delicately phrase it, turned our fox to the good, and set 

 him for Hellidon and the joint corners of several Hunts. 



This was a Bicester fox most assuredly. He knew of Griffin's 

 Gorse, and he went there nearly as straight as we could have 

 ruled the way for him. Now (I may whisper in your very 

 inmost ear) we all, and each and every one, verge closely upon 

 cowardice at this first beginning of a winter's career. And 

 thus a none-too-difficult line called for as much indecision as 

 a far stronger course of December's offering. The little places 

 were difficult to find. Gaps have grown up ; and timber looks 

 terribly strong in November. Fence for fence, we rode this 

 way last February, also from Staverton Wood. Ah, but then 

 we had not with us the same lusty trippers from Harboro' to- 

 day, else had the ash rails shivered much more blithely and 

 readily. In the end, however, and quickly we made a way 

 yes, and found a trifle of wire ('tis all to come down, though, I 

 gratefully hear) passing Hellidon merrily, and leaving the 

 village several fields to the right. Then over the hill to 

 Griffin's Gorse, which the Bicester do hunt. The line was 

 forward had scarcely touched the covert and five minutes 

 later was at an end just short of Byfield. That fox knew more, 

 I trow, of the buildings of the Ironcross Farm than his foes 

 could fathom. At thirty-five minutes by the watch he beat 

 them. 



I have probably not conveyed fittingly the pleasures of 

 Saturday's afternoon gallop. The country formed by no means 

 its least merit : for it was smooth if not actually flat, and 

 rideable enough without being insignificant. Our fox was bold 

 and the pace was good as is testified by the point and time, five 

 miles in thirty-five minutes. Among those who took part in it 

 were the Master, Mr. and Mrs. W. Blacklock, Mr. and Mrs. 

 Byass, Lord Henry Paulet, Captains Jacobson and Soames, 

 Messrs. Wroughton, Onslow, Craven (pere et fils), Atherton, 



