The Billesclon or South Quorn. 171 



every day. As one who has learned all their features 

 you will seldom be amused. Herein^ in fact, lies the 

 bane of this little country. It is too ivell hnown. 

 And a fine hound -run is often voted wearisome, 

 because men anticipated its line, and could map out 

 their whole path beforehand. But they don^t all 

 know their way over the Stonton Brook. Here 

 their learning fails, and their shortcomiugs discover 

 themselves. High authority has suggested that 

 the Stonton Brook should be drained — guaran- 

 teeing that, in silver-mounted relics and stirrup 

 leathers alone, full compensation for expense would 

 be found. 



Just westward of this home circuit is the meet of 

 Carlton Hall, and the delightful covert of Sheepshorns 

 — the latter ranking with Norton Gorse as a certainty 

 for a gallop over the creamiest grass. 



Stonton Wyvile is for Langton Caudle and the 

 great strongholds of Staunton and Glooston Woods; 

 and hounds are here or hereabouts quite once a week — 

 and seldom without good result. 



The Saturday country comprises a very limited 

 space. The new railway, as jotted on the map, 

 gives about its area. It depends for its sport almost 

 entirely on the chain of woods facing the Cottesmore 

 at Wardley. The Billesdon draw Allexton with the 

 other pack ; and they have also Stockerston Wood 

 and Marabole Holt (otherwise Merivale) — and for 

 these they usually meet at Allexton or Blaston. From 

 these good fastnesses foxes should break over into 

 Cottesmore ground more often than they have of late 

 been willing to do. Slawston is more frequently 



o 



