330 HUNTING TOURS. 



get a start, had previously got into their 

 places, so this check and its difficulties were 

 overcome, when, pointing for Swacliffe the 

 hounds rolled their fox over in the open, 

 with not a dozen to witness their triumph. 

 But a significant sequel remains to be told. 

 On Major Shirley's arrival at home, and 

 about to take off his coat, he drew the fox's 

 brush from the pocket, when his German 

 valet exclaimed with ecstacy, " Ah ! sare, den 

 you have shot him at last." 



A day in the woodlands very commonly 

 affords a good opportunity of forming an 

 opinion of the working properties of hounds. 

 I therefore availed myself of the opportunity 

 of meeting them at Alcester, their principal 

 woodland country, and where, for the conve- 

 nience of cub-hunting, there are temporary 

 kennels. The morning was boisterous and 

 rough, and Cold Comfort, the covert first 

 drawn, was in other respects exemplified. It 

 held a fox, probably a brace, but the scent 

 was wretched and a move was made to Rouoh 

 Hill, where matters improved ; still, there 

 was very little scent, and no blood. 



When the place of meeting is within mode- 

 rate distance of Leamington there is invariably 



