A HUNT WITH LORD ANNALY 235 



bury, ■ Mr Bassett, Mr and Mrs Mills, Captain 

 Alexander, the Rev. Cecil Legard and many others. 



The Pytchley turf was riding fetlock deep, the 

 gallant grey which we bestrode galloping on through 

 the deep, over the trying ridge and furrow, as only 

 a good one knows how. Hounds got quickly to 

 work towards the Castle Ward earthworks, and 

 in a very few minutes there was an inspiring view 

 halloa from the valley below. Down the steep, 

 boggy ride of the covert swept a competitive body 

 of Pytchle}^ leaders, with every horse fighting for 

 his head. Before half of us had filtered through 

 the bog in the gateway on the top side of covert, 

 the fortunate few could be seen in the beautiful 

 valley below, sailing away at the tail of hounds. It 

 was poor consolation to one well left behind, holding 

 on for dear life as a keen horse made the precipitous 

 descent of that execrable wood ride, to be told by 

 our neighbour that '' Freeman always goes away 

 from covert a regular burst for the first mile." 

 Having established himself on good terms with the 

 hunted one, he then lets hounds hunt as they will, 

 playing with his victim as a cat does wdth a mouse ; 

 for it is five to one on a kill at the finish. Hounds 

 were racing away close at their fox, and to save 

 his life he doubled to the left in the valley, running 

 along the foot of the hills on the Hothorpe side, in 

 the direction of Sulby to the left of Naseby covert. 

 The first twenty minutes sufficed to squander a 

 very large field over the face of the country, but 

 coming round left-handed gave us the opportunity 

 to see the leading division with Lord Annaly and 

 Frank Freeman riding across the vale of grass. 

 Never dwelling, the chase swept on past Naseby, 

 in the direction of Longhold, skirting which, they 

 went straight away over the Kelmarsh road and 



