140 HUNTING TOURS. 



few years, materially increased tlie operations 

 of the plough in most parts of the Cottes- 

 more country. With but a catching scent 

 most exquisitely the pack drove their fox 

 from Grirasthorpe, when some ploughed land 

 intercepting their course they had to work it 

 inch by inch over fallows, and here I think it 

 was Comrade who guided them. They were 

 then pointing for Irnham, and in the old Park 

 wood they no doubt got on to the line of a 

 fresh fox, who, steering his course over the 

 park, was saved from further exertion, by 

 three ambitious young farmers riding the 

 hounds off the scent in a most incautious 

 manner, and nothing more could be done. In 

 the expectation that the first fox had retraced 

 his steps the hounds were held back to 

 Grimsthorpe, and although there appeared in 

 places some indications of a scent, the ele- 

 ments were antagonistic, and a very good 

 hunting run, without blood, elicited the work- 

 ing powers of the pack to admiration. I was 

 particularly struck with the character of the 

 horses in this and the surrounding countries, 

 not merely of the hunters, but more especially 

 of the hacks ; so many with superlatively 

 good action I have seldom seen. 



