398 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



five minutes almost straight with Goodall's usual kill at the 

 finish." 



On Wednesday afternoon, then (never mind the morning, 

 though they do say that the Cotesbach Brook has since been 

 the means of creating a new fondness for watergruel in more 

 than one fair home), they found a right good fox in Lilbourne 

 Gorse, as you shall see. (No time for comment nor is there 

 much to hand for this post.) He broke towards Mr. Muntz's 

 house ; but turned to the left before he reached the Watling 

 Street road evidently over the ground that for one year formed 

 the scene of the Rugby Chases. Then straight to Crick Covert 

 ye gods, what a line, and obviously all the wire was down. 

 Within one field of the gorse, he turned to the left, and made 

 for the wooded knoll known as Cracks Hill where he was 

 viewed close in front of hounds. The latter dwelt but little 

 time on the hill ; but crossed the lane leading to Yelvertoft, 

 and ran on as if for Winwick Village. Bearing off a trifle to 

 the right, however, they went on over a fine line of country 

 between Winwick and West Haddon rising the hill and cross- 

 ing the Guilsborough road, with their heads towards Ravens- 

 thorpe village. Just beyond the next bottom, they for the 

 first and only time in the run hesitated a moment. But 

 Goodall, catching a view of his fox, held them on ; and they 

 ran up to the road between West Haddon and Buckby Folly. 

 While hounds crossed it, and for a few fields ran parallel the 

 field generally being very glad to take advantage of the road 

 for by this time horses had in most cases begun to cry enough. 

 So with their fox ; for now he sank the hill, as though he 

 meant to reach the covert of Vanderplank, but, his powers fail- 

 ing him, he crept up towards Long Buckby Village, lay down in 

 the ditch of one of the large grass fields before reaching it 

 and here they pinned him. " As good a hunt as anyone could 

 wish to see hounds doing their work entirely of themselves, 

 and their fox never very far in front of them. The line was a 

 splendid one " (as indeed is easily recognisable). " Many of the 

 horses were very tired, and no second-horses were obtainable, 



