i66 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



clever pony, fairly astonished beholders by the 

 ease with which he accomplished his passage over 

 Leicestershire ! 



Something must have headed this fox in his 

 flight, for after circling in the direction of Melton 

 and Thorpe Arnold he returned to covert again. 

 Hounds, however, were wound up to concert pitch, 

 and rattling him through the thorns were quickly 

 away again in merciless pursuit. Swinging along 

 as if glued to his brush, they left on the low side of 

 Melton Spinney ; crossing the brook and the railway, 

 they raced over the grass by Scalford Hall, leaving 

 the station to the right as they pointed for Old 

 Hills. Two flying foxes up before the pack in one 

 afternoon, and the pride of Leicestershire to ride 

 this race for life, awoke the enthusiasm of all those 

 who were fortunate enough to be there. In a long 

 run it is possible to retrieve a bad beginning, but in 

 a quick burst over the grass country, a moment's 

 hesitation means the loss of place, and possibly the 

 reputation of a good hunter ; but the little band of 

 riders might have been riding between the flags, 

 as they followed the fleeting pack over the famous 

 pastures. 



Three times the fox was viewed just in front of 

 hounds, but he struggled gamely on, crossing the 

 iron-stone railway by Scalford where he was duly 

 halloaed by the men at work, who are always keen 

 to get a view of the chase. Passing between Clawson 

 Thorns and the village, the pilot chose the vale 

 nearly up to Major Hobson's house, and then 

 finding flight was useless with such a burning scent, 

 turned short, right-handed for Harby Hills. It 

 was a move which, with a little luck, might have 

 saved his life ; for a field away from the hills a fresh 

 fox jumped up right in the middle of the pack — a 



