546 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



fitness for a scurry from Crick Gorse. Brown is armed with the 

 wrong bridle, and Robinson finds himself in a new saddle upon 

 a horse that invariably curls his back at starting. Montmo- 

 rency's left boot releases itself with a healthy crack from its 

 breeches-button ; Mrs. Montmorency's elastics snap gaily under 

 her foot (her only skirt that won't sit without them) ; and Round- 

 head's gilded hatguard draws its staple out of his beaver. This 

 is a world of small woes. Depend on it, if man or woman 

 look really happy and disinterested before hounds move off, 

 they are people of great minds or of great good fortune. They 

 have heavy trouble at home, or the accidents of life are to-day 

 all on their side. 



After all had mounted, when an unusual number were found 

 upon kickers, and one and all were nervously awaiting their 

 turn to be kicked, the cavalcade, lately set in motion, again 

 pulled up to wait. A caravan from Harboro' had just steamed 

 into Lilbourne station. To save the road journey, thirteen 

 horseboxes had been loaded. The unloading was an evolution 

 that the Horse Guards had done well to witness. In ten 

 minutes there was not a pink coat on the platform. All had 

 ridden up and fallen in. Forward, to Lilbourne Gorse whence 

 lialf the greatest gallops of the Pytchley have originated. Yet, 

 how a fox ever makes a country from here it is difficult to 

 miderstand. River, railway and crowded road block him as 

 remorselessly on the one side as Sir William Harcourt does the 

 Hares Close-Time Bill. The beautiful Criek-and-Hilrnorton 

 vale is the only available ground : and to reach that he has to 

 dash over the open, past a screaming multitude, and across 

 another well- manned lane. This morning our fox had time to 

 storm the former impregnable position, and be flung back among 

 hounds ere they had followed him over river and rail. He came 

 back through them and through our midst like an angry wolf 

 a great, raking, " varmint " with ears back and jaws wide open. 

 By pluck he regained the Gorse ; and by pluck he attained the 

 other route, southward. Twelve minutes only we then rode : 

 but it was a gay scurry by Lilbourne Village and over the valley 



