234 The Hunting Countries of England, 



the way^ is tlie road not the river (as in Stanford's map) 

 from Bishops Froome to Bromyard. Below Bishops 

 Froome the ground gets more undulating, though still 

 open and rideable enough. Beacon Hill is an excellent 

 covert in this tract of country. It is a narrow wood 

 of horseshoe shape, perhaps a hundred acres in all, 

 belonging to Mr. Higgins, who owns a great deal of 

 land in the neighbourhood; and who, though no 

 longer able to hunt in person, gives his best sympathies 

 and support to those who do. Some few brooks run 

 across this upper country — the Leddon and the 

 Cradley being the two most frequently met with. The 

 former can be jumped in some places and forded in 

 others ; and the Cradley brook is to be got over, or 

 through, almost anywhere. Often foxes will run into 

 the North Herefordshire country — for instance, to the 

 great earths at Hall Court, the seat of Major Browne, 

 Master of the North StaflFordshire — and on the way 

 will cross the River Froome, which is of most un- 

 jumpable dimensions. Again, foxes found below the 

 Malverns are as likely as not to make straight for the 

 hill, under the delusive idea that safety may be found 

 on its summit. The result, on the contrary, is almost 

 invariably their death ; for the hill top is absolutely 

 without covert, and there are but few spots where they 

 can get to ground. Anyone who has seen the Malverns 

 will readily understand that on such occasions fox and 

 hounds are likely to have ample time to settle the 

 question between themselves, before the field can in 

 any way intrude ; for the progress of a horseman up 

 the hillside must be about as rapid as that of a fly up 

 a window pane. Once he has reached the summit, he 



