1869] NIMROD LONG. 109 



to the drain, which once more brought hounds to check. 

 However, he succeeded in making his point, and, with 

 Snarford Church on the right, the pack pressed on to 

 Faldingworth Ings ; then, with Shaft Wood and Wickenby 

 on the left, they went straight for Snelland. After cross- 

 ing the railway the fox was again headed, and turning to 

 the left past Wickenby village, he sought shelter in 

 Wickenby Wood, where he took one turn round before 

 trying to break for Holton. But hounds were too close 

 to him, and his heart failed him ; so he turned back to the 

 covert, and they caught him close to the railway, after a 

 wonderful run of two hours and five minutes. By the 

 map hounds had traversed fifteen parishes, and had run 

 not less than twenty-four miles. Long claims to have 

 had the best of it all through, though a few others rode 

 through the run, and he was well carried by a horse called 

 Monarch ; the horses of both whippers-in were beaten 

 some forty-five minutes before the end, so that the hunts- 

 man had no assistance in killing his fox. Long speaks in 

 no measured terms of his pack, and says that when the 

 bitches crossed the ride in Wickenby Wood for the last 

 time they went over like a flock of pigeons, and they all 

 finished wonderfully fresh. Long received the following- 

 two letters soon after, which add further testimony to the 

 excellence of the run. 



Copy of letter from Mr. E. (now Lord) Heneage to 

 Nimrod Long. 



" Hainton Hall, Wragby, 



"March 8th, 1869. 

 " Long, 



" As I have no doubt you would like the points of your run on 

 Saturday into the Burton country, I send you them very shortly, as I do not 

 suppose you know the country much, neither does Mr. Webster, who, with young 

 Oole and another in black, were the only others who rode the run. I make it a 

 nine-mile point in two places, and over twenty miles ; but twenty is the very 

 smallest distance, measuring on the map as follows : — 



From Usselby Plantations to Osgodby 2 mDes. 



„ Osgodby to Middle Rasen (the check) 2 „ 



„ IMiddle Rasen to the turn of the Hounds in Owmby 



Parish near the Welton road ... ... ... 7 ,, 



„ Welton road to the drain at Cold Hanworth ... 4 „ 



