FOX-HUNTING IN ENGLAND. 241 



■ ■ ■ ■ ^-*- ...i— - ■ ■ ■ ■ ... ■ . i ■ i ■ — — — . j 



had at first confused my bridle-hand being re- 

 moved, my horse, recognizing the changed position 

 of affairs, settled down to his work like a well- 

 trained and sensible but eager beast as he was. 

 From the covert to Princethorpe we took seven 

 fences and some small ditches, and we got there 

 with the first half-dozen of the field, both of us 

 in higher spirits than horse and rider ever get 

 except by dint of hard going and successful fen- 

 cing. 



Here there was a short check, but the fox was 

 soon routed out again and made for Waveley 

 Wood, a couple of miles to the northwest. 



"Waveley Wood is what is called in England a 

 " biggish bit of timber," and the check here was 

 long enough to allow the whole field to come 

 up. As we sat chatting and lighting our cigars, 

 " Tally-ho ! " was called from the other side of 

 the cover, and we splashed through a muddy 

 cart-road and out into the open just as the 

 hounds were well away. Now was a ride for dear 

 life. Every one had on all the speed the heavy 

 ground would allow. In front of us was a " bull- 

 11 p 



