THE BLACKMORE VALE. 91 



covert, and riding almost in a line with them, 

 cheered and encouraged them on in the direction 

 of the village. A good thirty minutes' gallop 

 followed, by Templecombe and Stowell back to 

 Henstridge Ash and up to the covert whence 

 it had started. Here Press, well in front of 

 the field, threw down the fox, and with a loud 

 who-whoop celebrated the obsequies in due form, 

 and received the congratulations of the field on 

 a good day. The one somewhat mystified fol- 

 lower of the huntsman's tactics obeyed Press's 

 injunction to keep the secret, and it was not 

 till sometime afterwards that a rumour of the 

 day's proceedings came to be noised abroad. 

 As Press explained the reasons for his man- 

 oeuvre, " You see, sir, I knew 'twas our only 

 chance to-day, so I took it." 



A run that was considered by many to be 

 the best of the season took place on Thursday, 

 March 25, 1875, the last year that Press carried 

 the horn. Hounds met at the kennels, and after 

 a long draw they found in North Side Wood 

 near Templecombe, and settled down to run at 

 a great pace over a fine bit of country towards 

 Gillingham and Cucklington, and on to Shanks 

 House, where Mr Grant Dalton lived. Here 

 they checked, the time up to this point having 

 been fifty-five minutes. Press cast round the 

 house in the most persevering manner for some 

 time without success, but at last succeeded in 

 hitting off the line, and the hunted fox jump- 



