EN ROUTE TO GAL WAY. 1 23 



on Black Knight, late Captlvator. The pace is 

 "killing ;" for Elverstown we are bound; the "weeds" 

 are done now, and the *' duffers " are furlongs behind. 

 " Ware-wire," exclaims Major Lawless, who is first on 

 to the road, near the " Longhouse," all right, and on we 

 go up the opposite hill towards the next fence, when 

 Baron de Robeck (who is as usual in the front rank) 

 shouts : ** This way, this way ! you will be 'pounded' 

 there ; follow me." So we do. The Baron has not a 

 particle of jealousy in his composition, and is always 

 anxious to see others with the hounds as well as him- 

 self. The next we meet is a nasty fence ; Mr. Alex- 

 ander Graydon is the first up. *' That is very big," 

 he says, turning round in his saddle, having got over 

 with a struggle. *' The bigger the better,'' exclaims that 

 good horseman, Mr. Joe Kilbee of Cannycourt, as he 

 jumps it close in his wake. The next we meet is a 

 regular "yawner," and nearly all make for a gate 

 which is beside it. " Give place to the ladies, gentle- 

 men," says a man beside me, as Miss Beauman, Miss 

 Kilbee, and Miss O'Kelly, all come up together : they 

 seldom look for gate or gap, and on this occasion all 

 go at the ditch, and are landed safely into the next 

 field. The "varmint" is headed near Elverstown, 

 then makes back towards Punchestown for a short 

 distance before he points his mask for Eadestown ; 

 they hunt on by Hoystead's hook to the road. The fox 

 then makes towards Athgarrett ; the field has become 

 really select, and as they race up the hill, the only 

 persons with the hounds are H. R. H. the Duke of 

 Connaught, Lord Cloncurry on Polly, his brother. Major 

 Lawless, on a favourite hunter, Mr. Percy La Touche 

 on a gray, Mr. Fortescue Tynte on Sweet Pea, Mr. Wm. 



