46 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



meridian. Tim hours and fifty minutes, most of it hard 

 running. And you know the state of the ground — even 

 if termed grass ! 



I never saw a run — that was to be a run — 

 begin more curiously. Hounds — the lady pack of the 

 Grafton, too ; to my mind still the most fox-killing lot 

 that ever drove on a line — could scarcely move across 

 the first three fields after the find. " Wish I hadn't 

 brought out a hunter," he murmured. Good sir, you 

 would have been glad of iivo before they brushed that 

 lusty vixen. She was found near the Fawsley Woodyard, 

 and turned through the little covert of Hogstaff. Directly 

 she bore up the wind (a morning gale still blowing) they 

 took up the cudgels in earnest. Through the Laurels and 

 into Badby Wood, as fast as our horses (hacks or 

 hunters, or casualty gees — by which I mean the odd 

 roarer, or occasional trapper, of the stud) — as fast as they 

 could gallop by our accustomed corners and cuts. Then 

 we rode on to a holloa by Badby village to the earths 

 upon Studboro' Hill — at which hounds sniffed inquiringly. 

 Reynard had done the same. But the right man had 

 done his duty, and Reynard had to go further afield — for 

 Catesby, to holloa and to pace improved. Hounds tackled 

 to work forthwith. And I want to note, as I noticed, the 

 effect of continued rain upon ground that has already 

 been deeply trodden. The Pytchley on Saturday had 

 marked a wet grass field in a hundred places. On Mon- 

 day, after more rainfall, not a hoof-print was left. The 

 turf had welled up from below and erased them. Now I 

 pull up — am pulled up. And I'll te'l you how a man 

 feels when spun over wire. (For a second time, good 

 fellow, I beg you not holloa " Wire ! " to a brother mortal 

 already in air. For all the world 'tis like bidding one 

 hold up one's nose in cold blood to be punched when the 

 striker shall be ready. It makes the wire glisten — almost 

 grin in your face. One can't help oneself, but Providence 

 and a horse's weight may break the brutal strand.) Well, 

 he feels he is " caught at last " ; he knows they are all 

 in a jumble ; and the next thing he sees is a pair of heels 

 flashing over and past him. This is the awakening. 



