272 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



the following description. On one occasion a fox 

 was found by the hounds belonging to the ^vl'iter 

 in an outside cover which adjoined an open country 

 for ten or twelve miles, and after a ring or two was 

 killed in about an hour. A gentleman who came 

 late to cover, met a fox two miles off, going straight 

 across the open above described, of which he spoke ; 

 and, consequently, it was decided that the hounds 

 should meet there, in three weeks' time, with the 

 hope of finding this gallant fellow. The hounds met 

 and drew the same cover for him, and very soon 

 two foxes were on foot. After running hard in 

 cover for half an hour, the whipper-in, who was 

 placed where he could see if any fox took that open 

 country, rode up and said he was gone away. The 

 hounds were with difficulty stopped from the fox, 

 which remained in cover, and clapped on the flyer — 

 but with a coldish scent, owing to the start he got ; 

 nothwithstanding which, they went straight as 

 possible across the open for nearly twelve miles, 

 quite out of sight of any cover, or scarcely a fence 

 to hide a fox, and then came to a fatal check, owing 

 to a flock of sheep having gone along a road just 

 before the hounds, etc. When they were turned 

 towards home, a shepherd came up and said he saw 

 the same fox that day three weeks come over the 



