HUNTING TOURS. 831 



a large muster; and on Wednesday, December 

 the 10th, the appointment being in a good 

 country, at l^ewbold Pacey, only six miles off, 

 the field was unusually numerous. The morn- 

 ing, bright and cheering, induced many of the 

 fair equestrians to grace the scene with their 

 presence, and among them Mrs. George, who 

 rode throughout the run in her accustomed 

 intrepid and accomplished manner. Mr. 

 Lucy's covert did not hold a fox, neither 

 did Oakley Wood. Chesterton proved fortu- 

 nate, and without much pressing a fox broke 

 at the upper end, over Chesterton Field, 

 pointing for Slokington Holt, but a short 

 check intervened. A quick cast set matters 

 right, when, skirting the Holt, running in 

 the direction of Gaydon, over some very 

 heavy plough, brought the hounds to their 

 noses, and most effectively did they perform. 

 Here a cur dog presented himself, and as 

 he appeared to take great interest in the 

 proceedings, I entertain little doubt he had 

 been making himself unceremoniously intru- 

 sive. Another cast, however, recovered the 

 line, and the hounds carried it into Gaydon 

 Spinney, which, being a very small place, 

 there appeared great probability of their 



