NOTITIA VENATICA. 169 



diate death. They little knew the strength and Intentions of the animal 

 before thcni. lie had been sorely pressed since he jumped up in view, 

 and finding that his upwind coixrsc was no longer safe, he deserted what- 

 ever point he had in that line, and turned back down wind, from Mr. 

 Evelyn Sutton's white farm-house ; by which measure he at first threw 

 the hounds* to hunting. They, however, recovered their terms in ;i 

 fcAV moments, and going back close to Long Bennington town, stretcheil 

 away along a line for Foston, until they reached the road that runs 

 from the former place towards AUington. They ran along it nearly! a 

 mile, until they came to a small fir plantation on the eastern side of 

 the lane, in AUington Lordship. Hence they turned away to the right, by 

 Bennington Grange, crossed the Nottingham turnpike road, lelt 

 Muston village on their right, and went up to Sir John Thorold's plan- 

 tation. The fox came out in view to many gentlemen, and made for the 

 canal bridge opposite ; but being headed by a man there, he returned 

 through the cover, and aAvay at the opposite end. Two couple of hounds 

 got away close to his brush, and the remainder hunted after them over 

 the river, and overtook them when within three fields of Sedgebrook 

 village. They now again ran very hard over this beautiful country, 

 leaving Sedgebrook on the left, with their heads directly for Barrowby 

 Thorns. After going within two| fields of that cover, they suddenly 

 turned to the right, and ascended the hiU which lies between the Not- 

 tingham road and the Thorns, on the top of which is a clump of fir trees. 

 Prom this point several horses dated their discomfiture. The hounds, 

 after ascending the hill, proceeded without any relaxation of pace, 

 leaving Barrowby town half a mile on the right, pointing for Gunnerby 

 village, but when they entered Gunnerby Open Field, they turned sharp 

 to tJie right ; and going over a hollow that runs up from Grantham, 

 they crossed the hill on the other side, went over Earl's Fields, and 

 came down to the canal, Avithin 200 yards of the wharf at Grantham. 

 The fox had intended to nick a swingbridge§ opposite the toll-bar, but 

 having missed his point by 300 yards, he ran the towing-path and then 

 crossed over the bridge. A man who was there informed us that he 

 was then ten minutes before us. Crossing the Melton turnpike road, 



" '■= Mr. Cholmondeley, who had been thrown out ia the course of the run, hear- 

 ing the hounds returning towards him, looked for the fox, and saw him come through 

 a hedge close to him, and not more than two fields before the hounds. He crouched 

 for a few moments, and then returned through the hedge back towards the hounds ; 

 but of course speedily changed his direction again. 



" t Some men had viewed him in this lane, and he was then about four or five 

 minutes before the hounds. 



" J Previous to this point he had been again twice viewed, and each time was five 

 minutes before the hounds. 



" § This fox had shown a marked dislike to water during the whole of his widely 

 extended course. At Muston plantation, when he headed from the bridge, he made 

 no other attempt to cross the canal, though it probably was his intention at that time 

 to make a direct point for the woodlands, which he could have done with a saving of 

 five or six miles. Again at Grantham Swing-bridge he was determined, in defiance 

 of a man who was upon it, to pass over it, and effected his purpose ; and in crossing 

 the river at Great Paunton, he did not go through the river, but availed himself of a 

 foot-bridge. 



