HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



in high flood from the thaw, two ardent sportsmen 

 at least swimming the river. Sport continued only 

 moderate during December, but on the 30th there 

 was another good run from Bellavilla, ending in 

 losing the fox in the dark after a run of one hour and 

 a quarter at a great pace, at a spot not named in the 

 Major's diary. 



On January 2, 1855, the major was much dis- 

 gusted at the Master calling off the hounds at so 

 early an hour as 2 o'clock, after a bad morning's 

 sport, at Welsh's cover, Moone, and Nine Tree 

 Hill, where they at length found and ran through 

 Narraghmore Wood, only to lose in the bog. A 

 curious day, Saturday, January 6, is best de- 

 scribed in the major's own words: 



" Met at Rathcoole, drew Castlebagot, found, 

 went away fast for about a mile and a half and ran 

 to ground. Drew Lyons, chopped a mangy fox. 

 Drew Arthurstown, found, and after some time 

 some of the hounds came out of cover and went 

 like fun for a couple of fields. No fox was seen to 

 go away, could not account for it. Drew Kilteel, 

 found, chopped one fox, another went away and 

 there was a good run of forty minutes. The hounds 

 up to Punchbowl ran away clean from everybody, 

 there they checked for a minute or two and on 

 again in the direction of Downshire and ran to 

 ground not far from there." 



Hunting was again stopped by frost in the middle 

 214 



