402 



FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



cross Fawsley quickly without them. Now I could well realise 

 the paradise they open to age, to crippledom, to the thousand 

 accidents that may leave a man still fond of foxhounds, but 

 very careful of his own safety. I tell you, Sir, this gallop was 

 luxury, rank revelry, sheer delight. I speak as a fool, and as a 

 cripple. But I speak for myself; and I wish you nothing 

 better than that it brought half the warmth to your heart that 

 it did to mine. 



We careered to Fawsley House, and past it to the big covert 

 our fox in plain view, not 300 yards ahead. The mile of 

 woodland was threaded in another five minutes ; then, more 

 slowly, the run went forward by the brookside to Everdon. 

 And only at Everdon did jumping begin, or rather the necessity 

 for it for, though apparently at least one good man had 

 already clad himself in a muddy coat, there were some scores 



who like myself saw the whole run, bar the one quarter of a 

 mile while we rounded the brook, without being committed to 

 a single fence. The little Everdon Brook came in sight at the 

 exact spot whereat the Pytchley crossed it some weeks ago, 



