i8o THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



hounds ; as he had made up his mind that they 

 would go to Coggs, or Ensham. We got to cover- 

 side before old Jim had brought his hounds up, 

 about a quarter past eleven. We then threw off and 

 drew towards the lower end of the wood, when, 

 before a single challenge, " Tally Ho Away " was 

 the cry. Hill got his hounds out of covert, but was 

 obliged to lift them to a hollow two or three fields 

 off, when they settled down well, going off to Coke- 

 thorpe, where we got to the first ford. They then 

 turned for Ducklington, and crossed the road, when 

 the line was direct for Barley Park. Headed from 

 thence, he turned towards Boys Wood, but not lin- 

 gering a moment, he passed by Claywell Farm and 

 away for Aston Field, by Cote, and leaving Bampton 

 to the right hand about a quarter of a mile, then all 

 along the grass to Kelmscott and Grafton : a most 

 difficult country to get across, regular steeplechase 

 fences. Then to Lechlade, where we viewed the 

 cratty one, seemingly quite fresh, and a noble one 

 he was. He then turned close by the town, and 

 nearly jumped into the middle of the V.W.H. pack 

 which met at Lechlade that morning. Turning from 

 them he bore to the right, then back to the left 

 straight for Bibury, and finally we ran into him, in 

 an open field, about four miles on the other side 

 of Lechdale and I should think about two miles 

 from Bibury. The distance, I believe, is about seven- 

 teen miles from point to point, and the greater part 

 was very fast, at least, considering the nature and 

 the state of the country. If the hounds had gone 

 faster no horses could have lived with them. The 

 field was not a large one at first, and as you may 

 imagine, was very considerably lessened by the end. 

 Not a few were the accidents by flood and field. 

 Lord Valentia was half killed, unable to ride. One 

 man got his leg broken ; another fell on his head and 



