ii6 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



checked, Capell answering their mute appeal for 

 assistance with unerring cast, and away they 

 chimed with inspiriting chorus into Irnham Old 

 Park Wood. Running the length of this covert, 

 hounds led the way across a line of hairy fences 

 to the brook which winds its way up the valley 

 between Osgodby and Lenton. Some had a go at 

 it with more or less success, hitting off a spot where 

 the bottom was sound, enabling horses to jump 

 in and out. A post and rails into deep plough, 

 and a rough boundary fence came into the journey 

 up to Osgodby coppice. Here there was some 

 confusion with a brace of foxes before hounds, 

 but the whipper-in, Jack Jones, jumped some stiff 

 timber, and turned the pack to Capell in the nick 

 of time. Getting on to poor scenting ground, it 

 was slow hunting out by Bitchfield Wood, until 

 a halloa back by Osgodby Coppice supplied the 

 missing evidence. From the hill-side we had a 

 glorious view across a grass country looking up to 

 Lenton spire. The fences here about have a 

 strong top binder, but our leaders were Captain 

 H. Steeds, Mr G. Drummond, Mr F. H. Schwind, 

 Mr L. Heathcote, and Mrs G. Schwind. Travelling 

 smoothly over the mile or more of grass, hounds 

 disappeared into Ingoldsby Wood, and scent serving 

 they ran with a beautiful cry, sending the wood 

 pigeons rocketing from their perches. Led by Sir 

 Gilbert Greenall on the grey, we rode the low side 

 of the covert in hot haste over boggy poached 

 going. Pulling up at the Grantham end, low 

 corner, Sir Gilbert held up his hand and we stood, 

 a cloud of steam rising from the horses. " Just in 

 time ! Yonder he goes ! with back arched and 

 tongue lolling, a beaten fox leaving the covert." 

 The master's horn summoned Capell and hounds. 



