232 GOOD SPORT 



away on Cottesmore territory. Trees are few and 

 far between, just sufficient to break up the hedge- 

 row Unes which make a network tracery over the 

 sea of grass. You may search the landscape for 

 signs of human habitation, only to find one or two 

 solitary farmsteads miles apart, presenting an ideal 

 sporting paradise. Blow from which point the 

 wind may, there is no smoke from town factory, or 

 taint from high farming, to rob the grass land of 

 a scent left by a fox going straight for his hfe to 

 the covert, nearly four miles away. 



As Capell approaches Coston covert with hounds 

 he follows precedent by sounding the preliminary 

 " notice to quit " on the horn, which echoes back, 

 the silence being broken by the harsh notes of a 

 magpie as he saucily flicks out of the thicket. Let 

 us hope our luck is right, bird of doubtful omen ! 

 for though more tlyilling gallops can be recorded 

 from this covert than any other in Leicestershire, 

 there are seasons and occasions when it has failed. 

 Sir Gilbert and Lady Greenall pull up by the narrow 

 ride-gate, and the rest of us possess our souls in 

 patience, waiting for the master to touch his horn, 

 the signal for a flying start, and the rush of pent-up 

 energy led by the best riding talent of the day. 



An up-to-date pursuer of the fox, when asked to 

 give a definition of a perfect day's sport, is reported 

 to have said, "Twice round the Aylesbury steeple- 

 chase course, and home to lunch." A dart from 

 Coston covert to Woodwell Head with a racing 

 scent would pretty well meet this ideal summary of 

 a perfect hunt, for the Bel voir have covered the 

 distance, which measures just under four miles as 

 the crow flies, in twelve minutes. Since the early 

 days of hunting the line has alwa3^s been con- 

 sidered a trial of speed for horses and hounds, who 



