GOOD SPORT. 163 



country, with large grass -fields, an occasional 

 brook, and fences that can be jumped in a horse's 

 stride almost anywhere. 



Of the runs that live in my memory is one 

 when the dog pack met at the Cross Keys, 

 Lydford, on December 7, 1889. We found in 

 West Wood, and ran over the road to Horn- 

 blot torn as if for Pennard, and on nearly to 

 Alhampton. Crossing the river to Ditcheat, we 

 went close to Evercreech, and then swinging 

 round came back to Alhampton, where the fox 

 was run into fifty minutes from the start. This 

 was a regular steeplechase, as, with the exception 

 of one short check in the last ten minutes, hounds 

 raced the whole way. The line was over a fine 

 grass country without a single ploughed field, and 

 the flying fences were interspersed now and again 

 with timber or a possible water jump. 



Another grand day's sport over a lovely country 

 was when we met at Sparkford, early in the month 

 of February in the year 1894. A sharp frost had 

 made the roads very slippery, and the going was 

 so bad that it was twelve o'clock before a start 

 w^as made. At midday the Master gave the word 

 for Sturt Copse, and here we found a brace of 

 foxes at home. Hounds settled down to one of 

 them, which broke in the direction of Annis Hill, 

 and just touching the hill covert, he went on for 

 Podymore. Swinging round to the right, he raced 

 on to Yarcombe Copse, where he was viewed dead- 

 beat, the time up to this point being an hour and 



