TWO FOX-UP-A-CHIMNEY HUNTS 157 



formance, a rare test of pluck and stamina, and 

 never to be forgotten by the fortunate few who were 

 there to see it. 



Part II. — A Leicestershire Chimney-climbing 



Fox WITH THE BeLVOIR, MaRCH I9IO 



" Away to the chase, where the blue hills are swelling, 

 O'er Belvoir's fair valley of velvet so green, 

 On stretch'd pinions dwelling, the song lark is telling 

 His story of love as he floats o'er the scene. 



Away to the chase, as the sportsmen are thronging 

 Where Whissendine's waters in deep murmurs flow ; 

 Ne'er say that they're wrong in so ardentl}' longing 

 To lead the first burst at the shrill Tallv-Ho ! " 



— Robert T. Vvner, 1850. 



A wetter or dirtier galloping ground than Leicester- 

 shire during the season of deluge, igog-io, it would 

 be difficult to imagine, for from start to finish the 

 grass was riding fetlock deep. But the fox-catcher 

 sets his chart nothing daunted, whatever hindrances 

 the elements may offer, pursuing fair weather or 

 foul, and the Bel voir in this way managed to make 

 a record season of 1909-10, accomplishing a full 

 number of days hunting, besides killing seventy 

 and a half brace of foxes. 



Anywhere within the Vale is typical Leicester- 

 shire hunting ground, where it is plain to see but 

 one Diana rules the country — she who hunts the 

 fox — for there are thousands of acres that have 

 never grown a quartern loaf, or sent anything to 

 market besides butter, milk, cheese, and butcher's 

 meat. It is a hunting arena which has no superior, 

 and fox ground which will be open to sport, long 

 after more cultivated districts put a veto on the 

 chase. The season ended up better than it began, 



