Henry, Third Marquis of Waterford 



hounds (evidently a scratch pack laid on for the occasion) 

 had one of their best pipe openers by running the drag of 

 a clerical visitor whose horse's feet had been secretly aniseeded, 

 and all seemed ripe for action except the huntsman. He 

 was a stranger, and the grooms and second horsemen had 

 got at him and made him so low spirited by their geographical 

 sketches of the probable line of country that his pack was 

 doubled in his eyes before he was able to lay them on. The 

 stag made his point Oueensborough Road, between Barsby 

 and South Croxton, and then bent to the right, through Barsby 

 village, leaving Gaddesby on the left. 



" Up to this point the huntsman had gone well, and halloing 

 like a maniac ; but his right foot was seen to fly up as high 

 as his own head, crossing a ridge and furrow, and he was 

 heard of no more. The Marquis, on Saltfish, was thus left 

 in command, and the hounds ran well for Brooksby and 

 down the turnpike road for Rearsby village. Here the stag 

 bolted into a farmyard, and finally into a cellar, with his 

 lordship and Tom Heycock after him, and kicked the spigot 

 out of the ale barrel and flooded the place before these 

 eminent specials could secure him. Riders were lucky who 

 could find their way home, as the precaution had been duly 

 taken of sawing the guide posts in that part and turning the 

 arms the wrong way. Those between Lowesby and Leicester 

 especially suffered, and are still braced with iron as a token. 

 At all events, it was a great day, and how the Marquis once 

 rode to Melton and back, thirteen miles in the hour by 

 moonlight, and jumped all the stiles between Twyford and 

 Lowesby on the way back ; how he fastened his horses to 

 the fishing-boat from Lowesby Pond and enjoyed the locomo- 

 tion along the frosty road, until they took fright at Twyford 

 Windmill and leapt the hedge ; how he and his friend Sir 



15 



