The Pytchley. 141 



the Hemplows (merely to commence witli) ; eastward 

 there is capital ground about Welford and Sulby. 

 There are good coverts_, also^ round Kilworth Hall — 

 and another near South Kilworth Village. Wel- 

 ford and Cold Ashby, when advertised^ are almost 

 sure to lead to the Hemplow Hills, which for many 

 years was nearly always the regular Wednesday after- 

 noon draw_, and where Mr. Topham always had not 

 one fox, but a dozen, awaiting them. The bold steep 

 front of the Hemplows looks over a most glorious flat 

 grass country — the great pastures, strongly fenced, 

 sti etching to Stanford Hall and wide to the left of ij. 

 There was no part of the Pytchley domains of which 

 Charles Payne, in his palmiest days, was fonder than 

 this Crick and Stanford country : and he used to slip 

 over it so quickly that half his field seldom knew when 

 hounds were really running, when he was casting 

 them, or when he was going for a point — to pick up 

 his hunted fox or start a fresh one afoot. He initiated 

 a dangerous school — one, indeed, in which he, and he 

 only, ever attained success. His success was un- 

 deniable and brilliant — for there was a method and 

 an instinct in all he did. But many a huntsman has 

 tried in vain to follow in his footsteps ; aiming at 

 brilliancy, has merely achieved a character for wild- 

 ness, and succeeded only in losing reputation — and 

 perhaps place. 



Other Wednesday meets are Thornby (with Firetail 

 and the Thornby Spinnies close by) Winwick and 

 Yelvertoft. Between Yelvertoft and the Hemplows 

 lie the coverts of Yelvertoft Hillside (where some 

 years ago foxes were so thick that Capt. Thomson 



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