MR. CHARLES BOOTH ELMS ALL WRIGHT 373 



splendid, and scent good. The Vicar of 

 Stanford-in-the-Vale dispensed hospitality to 

 a large field at the meet, including many 

 followers of the V.W.H. Soon after eleven 

 o'clock the Master moved off with the dog- 

 pack and first drew a root field adjoining the 

 village blank ; also the osier-bed by Brooks 

 Farm, and Park Island, with a like result ; so 

 hounds were taken to Victors Thorns, com- 

 monly known as the New Covert, owned by 

 a past master of the hunt and a generous 

 supporter of foxhunting — Colonel Victor Van 

 de Weyer. Here there were at least a leash, 

 and possibly two brace, one very soon going 

 away towards Charney, hounds meanwhile 

 running another in covert. The fox, however, 

 went away towards Goosey, but turned sharp 

 right-handed through the buildings on Stan- 

 ford Park Farm ; then left again and ran the 

 vale between Stanford and Goosey villages up 

 to the Challow road, where there was a short 

 check ; but two and a half couples put us right, 

 though some cattle about a couple of fields 

 further caused a serious check. However, the 

 Master held on towards Oldfield Farm, by 

 which the pack ran, turning under Baulking 

 Hill down to Rosey Brook, along which they 

 hunted slowly, marking the fox to ground in 

 a rabbit bury on Upper Farm, belonging to 



