MIGRATION IN THE FROST 199 



from Carrig, the point at which hounds had feathered 

 across. Accordingly the Master and half his field went 

 round and across, the remainder keeping to the northern 

 bank, and the two parties taking post on opposite sides of 

 the stream where Reynard had gained " his earth beneath 

 the rocks," at or close to Rock Forest. 



It being late in the afternoon, and another draw being 

 declared unlikely, the northern division rode for Mallow. 

 Their comrades on the south bank were shortly afterwards 

 on the point of doing the same, when at the last moment 

 they were called back by the note of a hound ; the 

 Master had presence of mind to send a whip at once to the 

 unstopped earth ; and a sharp little gallop ensued down 

 the riverside to Killawillin, near which they had recently 

 forded the water. Mr, Phelan of Cork distinguished him- 

 self by jumping a deep quarry, in safety, during the scurry ; 

 and when the chase turned upwards on to the mountain 

 of Moynass, the remaining members of the Cork special 

 left for home. 



The United (Cork) 



In weather that would have been becoming to mild 

 October — and while by newspaper report the thaw was in 

 England working its sluggish way with a northerly wind — 

 I had the pleasure of being introduced to another country 

 altogether strange to me. I cannot, I regret to say, claim 

 that my introduction was backed by the happy accident of 

 sport — a presence impossible on any occasion absolutely 

 to command. But I saw a good, wide, and wild area of 

 fox-hunting ground, quite different from any in which I had 

 yet been entered. Apart from the chance achievement of 

 the day, there is to me in a first experience of a new- 

 country a special excitement, a maiden tremor so to speak, 

 that enhances tenfold the charms of whatever sport may 

 fall to one's lot. On IMonday last our portion was but a 

 brief warm scurry over ground that the United to a man 

 would have declined to pick out had any option been 

 offered them, but that at least gave one the opportunity of 

 seeing for the first time how the horses and men of county 

 Cork negotiate these curious fences. And now I must 

 take back at once a sentence that occurs somewhat earlier 



