262 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



a little on landing, he kept his legs, and went on. Here 1 

 the red had it, for Lord Foley got the lead, although 

 there were a few on the right who were nearly on as good 

 terms as his Lordship was. It was gallantly done, how- 

 ever, and due praise was given both to the rider and his 

 horse. We all got over this fence, but could not catch 

 Foley till we came to the first check. And how were 

 matters here ? Why, strange to say, there were seventeen 

 of one hunt, and fifteen of the other, well up, but the 

 majority were in orange. 'How is this?' inquired one, 

 who was becoming somewhat sanguine on the occasion. 

 ' They knew of a better place than we did, over the brook 

 and across the ozier-bed,' replied one of the couleur de rose, 

 ' but they ride devilish well.' 



" The science of Sam Lawley, whose eye had been on 

 his hounds when they checked, soon put matters to rights, 

 and before many of the stragglers had come up, we were 

 all at work again. But to make short of my story, as far 

 as the run is concerned. Our fox led us over a beautiful 

 country ; and, within two fields of Aylestone gorse, on the 

 other side the road leading from Leicester to Lutterworth, 

 we ran into him in the middle of a large field distance 

 about twelve miles as the crow flies. ' And who saw the 

 finish 1 ' I think I hear you eagerly exclaim. Not many, 

 for the pace had been severe from first to last ; and the 

 fox went so straight, that few chances were given to 

 those who looked out for a nick. But the colours of 

 the coats ! You will be equally curious on this point. 

 I will soon satisfy your curiosity. There were eleven 

 Quornites and eight Vernonites well with them at the 

 end, and about an equal number of each say a dozen 

 or fifteen in not a bad place. Fine horsemanship was 

 displayed on each side ; and it struck me that the 

 Quornites had the best of it towards the finish, by the 

 superiority of their horses, and the condition of them, for, 

 until the last three miles, the orange and red appeared 

 to me, and to others, to be, as nearly as we could guess, 

 equal. 



" I only regret that you did not see the run, which was 

 a splendid one from first to last, and I strongly re- 

 commend you to the Atherstone country. And I also 

 recommend you to see another pack kept in this part of 

 the country, more for the sake of the honour of them, 

 than for their performances in the field. I allude to Mr. 



