J[Ir. Egerton Warhurton 



where they race away from you to join the head. It now 

 looks as if you are committed to the woodland, and the 

 practical certainty of changing Foxes. A gentleman who 

 lives on the border tells you that the neighbouring pack 

 were all over it only two days ago, so for once they may 

 have done good by clearing it of Foxes. The Hounds hunt 

 the line into it half-way between a road separating the wood- 

 land from an open heath and the middle ride. Jim takes 

 the road, you take the middle ride. The scent is not quite 

 so good. There is still a steady concentrated cry, but 

 not much pace. Your heart sinks as the cry gets less and 

 less and eventually ' peters out.' They must either be on 

 the line of a Fox who has heard them coming, and has 

 therefore been gone some time, or else their own Fox has 

 turned. You have no alternative but to sit and suffer. 

 After two minutes of devastating anxiety you are rewarded. 

 First one and then another speaks, and then they all 

 chime in again and chatter away nearly to the far end of the 

 wood, but without going fast enough to press him. In the 

 road you join Jim, who has not seen him. The Hounds 

 carry the line into the road, and are brought to their 

 noses. You open a gate out of the road and let the 

 body of the pack through. You then turn your horse 

 to the left, up wind towards the horses. If you go 

 down wind first, the ladies and gentlemen will all follow 

 you, and you will have a difficulty in getting back again 

 if you do not hit it off. The up-wind attempt is on 

 this occasion of no avail, and you turn back down the 

 D 49 



