214 THE NEW FOREST 



the first time lent his hounds assistance, and the 

 pack swept on, bending a little westward, over 

 the open heaths that lie between Burley and the 

 Avon valley, and on, over the Forest boundary 

 to Mr. Mills' property at Bisterne, where they 

 killed him in the open about a mile from that 

 gentleman's house. The point was eleven miles, 

 probably about thirteen as hounds ran, and the 

 time an hour and a half. The run was nearly 

 all in the open, so that it was easy to ride, and a 

 large field, including Lord and Lady Leconfield, 

 and various other masters of hounds, saw this good 

 gallop. 



In former years bucks used frequently to run 

 down to the river Avon, and, crossing it, even 

 when it was in flood, would take to the enclosed 

 land and heaths beyond, even near to the Dorset 

 boundary. I remember on one such occasion, late 

 in April (as illustrating the unusual dates at which 

 New Forest hunting is carried on), the field were 

 making for a gap that appeared to be the most 

 practicable exit from the land hounds were cross- 

 ing. The huntsman arrived first, and his warning 

 hand, signalling danger, sent the field scuttling 

 off to find a better place. When, however, I asked 

 Allen what was the matter for I saw no danger 

 he replied, " There's an 'ard turkey hen sitting 

 on her eggs i' that gap, and I didn't want them 



