348 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



railway to Uffington Gorse, then swinging back 

 over the line again by Baulking over the brook, 

 back through Rosey Covert, again over the 

 brook to Sheepcroft Field by Stanford in the 

 Vale. In doubling back they crossed the 

 brook yet again, where several other immer- 

 sions took place, although the field by now was 

 becoming attenuated by a rather severe applica- 

 tion of the principle of *' the survival of the 

 fittest." Ultimately the gallant fox went to 

 ground in Rosey Covert, where he was left. 

 Run, one and a half hours, with plenty of 

 jumping, and many riderless horses. 



Mr. Swindell is an excellent sportsman, and 

 he was particularly popular with the yeomen 

 and farmers in the Old Berks country, who, 

 upon his giving up the hounds, determined to 

 present him with a testimonial. They then 

 bethought themselves of the fox presented to 

 him by the Puckeridge Hunt, and came to the 

 just conclusion that so stout a fox should have 

 a hound after him, so they presented him with 

 a silver hound, with the inscription : — 



"Presented to F. C. Swindell, Esq., by 193 

 tenant farmers of the Old Berks Hunt, in 

 recognition of the unvarying courtesy and 

 consideration they have received from him 

 during his mastership. June, 1898." 



At the same time a silver hunting horn was 



