1896] WILL DALE. 161 



Egypt, to come for a few days in the Brocklesby country, 

 and some capital sport did Lord Willoughby de Broke 

 show us. As a rule such visits are not productive of 

 good sport, the weather or the foxes proving inimical. 

 But Lord AVilloughby was particularly lucky. A week's 

 rain previous had put the country in most excellent 

 scenting and riding condition, the foxes proved bold, 

 straight-necked ones and lovers of the grass ; big fields 

 were the rule (some six or eight other packs sending 

 representatives, so that stabling room in the neighl^our- 

 hood was at a premium during the week), and there was 

 nothing whatever to cause a hitch or mar the pleasure of 

 the visit. There was a huge crowd at Bradley Cross- 

 roads, and the most wonderful and unlooked-for event of 

 the day was the drawing of Bradley Wood blank. But 

 this was no doubt a blessing in disguise, for had we found 

 at Bradley we might not have gone to look for that good 

 fox that lay snugly curled up in Irby Holme. He first 

 broke on the Irby side, but being headed back into covert, 

 went away at once at the opposite end, and placing 

 Welbeck Hill on the left, crossed the Barton street, and 

 went to Bradley Wood as straight as the crow flies, 

 hounds going a great pace the whole time. They ran 

 straight through the wood, turned to the left at Tennyson's 

 Holt, and on crossing the Laceby and Grimsby road we 

 viewed our fox trying the earths at Little Coates. The 

 main earths were closed, but he managed to get into a 

 big rabbit hole connected with them, and so escaped. It 

 was a capital gallop, and all were loud in their praises of 

 Lord Willoughby and his famous pack. This run was 

 followed by a burst down the marshes from Sutton Thorns 

 to Grimsby, the fox entering the timber docks, and after 

 leading hounds down the railway for some distance, sur- 

 rendering his brush in Messrs. Wintringham's timber-yard, 

 the stacks of timber around forming a capital amphi- 

 theatre from which to view the final obsequies. 



On March 31st Lord Willoughby had Stallingborough 

 Station for his tryst, and the proceedings opened unfor- 



M 



