HUNTING TOURS. 279 



omens of a scent ; but on reaching Kib- 

 worth there was a dense fog, so thick that 

 you could scarcely see fifty yards around — ■ 

 such is the variableness of atmosphere in this 

 climate. This fog extended around the place 

 of meeting, causing some delay in throwing 

 off. There was a tolerably large field for so 

 early in the season, including many well- 

 known faces from far and near. The proxi- 

 mity to the Pytchley enabled several members 

 to attend, among whom were Lord Hopetoun 

 and Mr. Villiers. After waiting beyond the 

 usual hour, for the fog to clear away, the 

 hounds proceeded to Langton Cauldwell, 

 where they soon found a fox, which broke 

 across the valley to the patch of gorse beyond, 

 where there was another fox, and the body 

 of the hounds meeting one of them, unfortu- 

 nately demolished him. A gentleman in black, 

 eager for a start, might have been the unin- 

 tentional cause, but as I did not hear that the 

 master made any complaint, it would be 

 uncourteous for any other person to do so. 

 There was, however, no time for delay, much 

 less to break up the dead fox, as his compa- 

 nion quickly quitted his quarters, but, as 

 might have been anticipated, there was only 



