The North Cotswold. 303 



with none of the drag and straggling that must attend 

 upon squeezing their way through smeuses and gaps. 

 In fact^ they can then burst their fox up very sharply, 

 unless he can get to shelter, for no chance is given 

 him of catching his second wind ; while as for their 

 followers, they must be mounted on something ex- 

 ceptionally smart if they are in any way to hold their 

 own. At such times riding over the walls is excellent 

 and most exciting fun ; and men are carried away to 

 push along over them with a determination they do 

 not always evince elsewhere. 



The eastern slant of the hill, as it dips towards 

 Blockley, is much more gentle, and more rideable. 

 The inclosures are mostly grass ; and the hedges 

 are fairly easy, with ditches generally small, almost 

 insignificant. Permanent grass, it should have been 

 mentioned, belongs only to the lower ground. Oa the 

 hill, a great deal of soil is handed over to seed for a 

 certain term of years; then, after carrying sheep for 

 its allotted time, is o.-tce more converted to oat and 

 barley land. 



A very enjoyable little country, of which to be both 

 Master and huntsman, must the North Cotswold be. 

 Mr. Algernon Rushout, who fills the enviable joint 

 office, is now commencing his tenth season — with an 

 ample stock of foxes for the requirements of three 

 days a week. So small an area would scarcely carry 

 as many days, but that the coverts are very plentiful, 

 and landowners and farmers alike favour foxhunting. 

 Indeed, if it be not hypercritical to say so, coverts 

 come almost too contiguously. With the exceptions 

 above alluded to (which after all comprehend nothing 



