98 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



best of the country. Think what misery it is to 

 miss such a run as this ! The best of the country 

 and no crowd ! ! I have a strong recollection of 

 missing the run of the season with the Cottesmore, 

 and though during the season in question I had 

 rather more good luck than usual for a man who 

 goes from one pack to another, I remember that 

 disappointment more keenly than all the good 

 sport I saw. For it was an opportunity which 

 may never occur again. The meet was Tilton 

 Wood, the journey a long one, and the morning 

 uninviting, so, quoting Lord Alvanley, I said, " Up 



Tilton Wood, and down Tilton Wood, and d 



Tilton Wood," and I hunted elsewhere, choosing 

 an open country, where there was no woodland. 

 We had a gallop ; the Cottesmore got right on 

 the back of a flying fox, ran him over the cream 

 of the Quorn country, and killed him in the open 

 at the end of an hour's fast gallop. 



But though I advise my readers to hunt from 

 home, and as much as possible to identify them- 

 selves with one pack of hounds, sure as I am that 

 by doing so they will get the most fun out of their 

 hunting, I by no means wish to imply that they 

 should never pay a visit. Spend a fortnight or three 

 weeks in another country, the shires for choice, 

 if your fancy lies that way, or have an occasional 

 day with a neighbouring pack. Probably when 

 you have made elaborate arrangements, and put 

 yourself to some inconvenience to pay your pro- 

 mised visit you will find sport to be of the worst, 

 foxes bad to find, and scent worse than indifferent. 

 But even then you will have had the pleasure of 

 meeting your friends in another country, of com- 

 paring notes with them, and if you have kept your 



