33 i The Hunting Countries of England. 



derful liow some of their hardiest followers will dash 

 down the steep pitcjies in their wake^ and make the 

 most of the turf and arable that line the valleys. They 

 find plenty of jumping in that brief interval too ; for 

 every inclosure is carefully and closely feuced. Thick 

 thorn-and- hazel hedges separate field from field — a 

 bank of varying size generally forming a base,, but the 

 ditches as a rule insignificant. When these fences 

 are cut-and-bound, as they frequently are, they become, 

 with the help of the bank, quite sufiicient to test the 

 jumping power of the best of horses. But, as already 

 said, many of the dingles are too steep, and many of 

 the woods too dense and extensive, to allow of follow- 

 ing hounds at once. Then there is nothing for it but 

 to keep to the upper ground as long as possible, and 

 ride for a point. The Hunt know pretty?' well the run 

 of foxes in certain directions ; and three times out of 

 four will reach that point as soon as hounds. It is 

 only by this knowledge that they can keep a hold 

 upon the pack at all — as anyone, to take quite a mild 

 instance, who has ridden between the wooded face of 

 Black Hill and the woodlands of the opposite ridges of 

 Walcot, Radnor, &c., will readily understand. A 

 stranger, gazing upon the country with feelings not 

 altogether remote from awe, cannot but breath a 

 tribute of admiration to the pluck and perseverance 

 animating the good sportsmen who have so long and 

 so successfully kept foxhunting going in these hilly 

 regions. A pack of hounds possessing many sterling 

 qualities was maintained by the same family — the 

 Beddoes of Longville Castle — for over a century 

 (allowing for the intervening reign of Mr. Robert 



