MEERY CHRISTMAS. 465 



dent of five years back. A fox left readily instantly for the 

 Vale. And now the earth had warmed again from last night's 

 rime. A substantial field remained, though quite half its 

 number had retired and the former were bent on a ride. 

 Well, if hounds hadn't room for the next fifteen minutes, it 

 was for no lack of pace on their part ; for it seemed to me they 

 had half a field to the good all the way. And such a country ! 

 Equal to the best of yesterday not timbered so strongly ; but 

 exacting enough in its blackthorn strength, though ever practic- 

 able. What a thud men make on the turf when they fail at 

 this speed ! and how tough must the human frame be to stand 

 such resounding shock ! (Dine yourselves sparingly and steam 

 your ribs warmly to-night, my two friends !) Thus to the 

 Southam and Shuckburgh road and across it towards Stockton 

 the chief leaders being the Master, Messrs. B. Hanbury, 

 Goodman, Schwabe, Greig, and two or three more. There was 

 a minute's check on the banks of Napton Reservoir ; then the 

 lady pack went on of themselves by Calcot Gorse, and by them- 

 selves across the canal to Shuckburgh Hill. To follow them, 

 we had to cross the canal first by a drawbridge, afterwards by a 

 right or left ddtour hounds running hard ahead for the east 

 end of the Hill, and completely round it for the Hall. Thirty- 

 five minutes to a check near here more hunting, through the 

 wood and to Flecknoe and back, for another half-hour. A 

 delightful burst and an excellent hunt how it ended I shall 

 only learn at to-morrow's covert-side. Motto for the day 

 " Open rebuke is better than secret love." 



MERRY CHRISTMAS. 



NOT the least happy part of all in my day's hunting is the 

 look-back of the after-dinner cigar. I would almost as soon 

 muse the day over then as ride it again ; or twice as soon as 

 talk it again. By myself I can draw my own retrospect, and 

 run through the salient points of what I have seen, with no 



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