io8 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



to their tops in bog, with their horses loose in the treach- 

 erous stream. Next I found myself in a wood surround- 

 ing a residence, whose propinquity I could only guess 

 from the presence of a carriage-drive. Having lost my 

 pilots and hearing a view holloa outside, I decided to get 

 clear of the wood as soon as I could. But this I could 

 only effect by leading my horse through a door in a wall 

 — which was promptly locked after me, while I remained 

 for five minutes in durance vile at the hands of a truculent 

 bailiff, and a victim to the laughing jests of his two comely 

 daughters. At length he vouchsafed to pass me out 

 through a farm gate : and it was at least pleasing to learn 

 afterwards that these sacred precincts belonged to one of 

 the best fox-preservers in the country. Hounds by this 

 time might have been anywhere. But they were not — 

 that is to say, they were divided on a brace of foxes, and 

 no run was taking place. 



One little wrinkle I learned to-day anent Northumbrian 

 country, viz. that, however tempting and near at hand a 

 gate may be, it by no means follows that it is desirable to 

 ride thither (as one's home-instinct prompts). For seldom 

 is it made to swing ; never is it made to unlatch to the 

 hunting-crop ; and the fence adjoining may often be a 

 preferable, invariably a more rapid, means of egress. 



Lord Zetland's 



On Thursday, April 8, 1 eagerly availed myself of a 

 chance of seeing this good pack in their lower country — 

 Scotch Corner the place of meeting, and Sedbury Park the 

 immediate draw. 



The rain that had favoured Northumberland had not 

 extended thus southward, but a cold, wet fog answered the 

 same purpose — hounds were able to run. In fact they 

 could drive over grass and bring the line across plough, to 

 work out a gallop and make a run — which meant a great 

 deal to a visitor from countries where in the past season 

 hounds have more often found themselves totally helpless. 



Scotch Corner — about two miles from the kennels at 

 Aske — would appear to take its name from the fact that 



