HUNTING TOURS. 83 



hounds running gallantly; admiring their 

 indomitable courage, yet knowing how futile 

 their efforts, with several foxes on foot; 

 anxious to stop them, yet unable to get near 

 enough to accomplish it, when, at seven 

 o'clock in the evening, fortune favoured him. 

 They broke over the open for Bampton wood, 

 near Market Harborough, when a man, hear- 

 ing the hounds, sallied forth in haste, without 

 the ordinary accompaniments of saddle and 

 bridle, a simple halter doing duty for the 

 latter appendage. The hounds checked about 

 a mile from the forest ; seizing this opportu- 

 nity, the Squire enlisted his new acquaintance 

 in his service, and, supplying the man with 

 his talismanic whip, enstalled him in office, 

 desiring him to get to their heads and stop 

 them. This was accomplished in a workman- 

 like manner, and the well known horn brought 

 the gallant pack to their happy master, who 

 was the more rejoiced when he discovered 

 that only three of his darlings were absent. 

 That they were sadly sore and tired the next 

 morning was a natural consequence ; but it 

 was the last day of the season, and a most 

 glorious finale. In the spring of 1834, 

 Mr. Osbaldeston resigned the Pytchley Hunt, 



