The Weynell 177 



For he will be popping in and out of the small 

 pastures all day ; and, though the fences are not such 

 as to throw him down easily (except when now and 

 again a stiff bit of timber may be encountered), they 

 are high and scratchey ; and a well-bred horse is apt 

 to over-exert himself at most of his jumps — to avoid 

 the sharp edges of thorns and stakes. And, travelling 

 on grass all the time, a fox is not soon tired to death, 

 nor likely to run his pursuers easily out of scent. 

 The chase is therefore often a long one, calling for 

 continued and severe exertion, and requiring a 

 thorough stayer to carry a man in comfort and 

 pleasure. As a sample of the Derbyshire country, 

 and of the distance foxes occasionally travel over it, 

 take the run from Hilton Grorse some five or six years 

 ago, Hilton Gorse is to Derbyshire what Ranksboro^ 

 is to Leicestershire. To watch it drawn is a sight in 

 itself — to get a good fox away is almost always a run. 

 On the occasion alluded to they ran from this covert 

 (which lies close by the River Dove) straight north- 

 wards to Snelston, near Ashbourne — a ten-mile point 

 — and crossed only one ploughed field in the 

 distance ! 



Above Ashbourne come the Derbyshire Hills, great 

 rolling limestone formations, covered with grass — so 

 steep that it is impossible to follow hounds, except by 

 riding from one high point to another for an occdsional 

 view. But it is a fine country for harriers, whose 

 game is not prone to carry the sphere of action so 

 wide — the range on the north towards Wirksworth 

 being particularly favourable. 



Beginning with the Thursday, or Derby, side of the 



