26 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



coincidence, I at least will never omit a loyal toast and a 

 hearty one on the 5th of November. Henceforth indeed 

 will " I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever 

 be forgot." 



Twenty minutes more — not quite so fast, for it had all 

 been hard, uninterrupted galloping to Bunker's Hill — 

 brought them along the hillside to the lodge gate of Bilton 

 Grange. Another ten minutes' twist took us to Cook's 

 Gorse, and here or hereabouts hounds undoubtedly 

 changed, though at the end of two hours' hunting they ran 

 a fox to ground almost beneath the Rugby Water Tower. 



Up to Bilton Grange I think it impossible they could 

 have changed (though such a matter must always be mere 

 opinion). And I further allow myself to think that the 

 fox that gave them this grand gallop was probably the 

 same which beat them last year across this very ground 

 to Cook's Gorse. Under the faulty conditions of haste 

 and a feeble memory I append such few other names 

 as those of Mr. and Mrs. Cassell, Mr. and Mrs. Graham, 

 Major Allfrey, Captain Allfrey, Captain Faber, Messrs. 

 Verney, Bather, Edwards, Goodman, Martin, and Wedge, 



From the far end of Shuckburgh Wood to Bunker's 

 Hill is rather more than a five-mile point (hounds ran an 

 arc), to Bilton Grange is nearly seven, to the Water Tower 

 between eight and nine. 



I hope I may have succeeded in making clear the 

 points and outline of a run that, for merit of fox and 

 hounds and country, we are not likely to see frequently 

 equalled during the season of 1891-92. 



I think I may venture a reflection that applies to us 

 all — i.e. to Northamptonshire and its flying fields. You 

 know we are *' terrible fellows " for gates. When we get 

 there these are often very clumsily and inconsiderately 

 fastened. The most active — sometimes the most mis- 

 guided — man jumps off to let the huntsman through. 

 It was by no means his intention to do gate-opener, hat 

 in hand, for the million ; I mean for the next twenty 

 comers. But too often he gets many kicks, never any 

 halfpence. Everybody is profusely grateful, or, at least, 

 one or two spokesmen are. And these, perhaps, go so 



