254 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



On the plough hounds could do nothing for themselves, 

 and had simply to trust to the huntsman's discretion. The 

 line was in the main the same that they have run repeatedly 

 this season, and frequently, I suppose, for many seasons 

 past, viz. forward and back among the little chains of 

 woods from Seawell to Stovve — its interest varying always 

 according to speed and divergence of route. On Monday 

 they found their fox at Preston Wood, ran by Knightley 

 Wood to Seawell and back, thence to Everdon Stubbs and 

 Stowe Wood, a double twist round these, and finally a 

 break forth by Lower Weedon nearly to Dodford Holt. 

 The first hour was pleasantest and prettiest. On both 

 occasions of their fox leaving Stowe Wood he crept out 

 apparently beaten. But the upland arable helped him be- 

 fore the pack could reach him ; and he made his brush 

 safe by about 6.30. I don't think I can make more story 

 of this, and sincerely do I trust there were no toes down 

 next morning. 



The same day, as I learn, the Woodland Pytchley, 

 running into the heart of the mother country, and thus 

 keeping almost entirely upon good green turf, scored an ex- 

 cellent fifty minutes, very probably with the same fox that 

 Goodall had driven into the woods on the Saturday 

 previous. From Brampton Wood Mr. Mackenzie, with his 

 good dog pack, brought him back by way of Braybrooke 

 village, as if for Loatland Wood ; then, if I have it rightly 

 (leaving Arthingworth on the left) by Clipston Station 

 and Oxenden village. From here they ran harder than 

 ever over a strong good line towards Kelmarsh, their fox 

 reaching the open eartJ^s at Langborough, near Kelmarsh 

 Station, only just in front of hounds. This must have been 

 a charming run. It was witnessed only by a few, but 

 among those few Lord Downe, Mr. T. Jameson, and other 

 appreciative members of the Pytchley proper. 



On Tuesday (not Wednesday this time — for was not 

 the morrow to be the occasion of a full dress parade of the 

 Hunt servants upon Northampton Racecourse ?) the 

 Pytchley came to Swinford ; and, though the sun blazed no 

 less fiercely, while the weathercock turned its beak faintly 

 to the south, they still kept the sport up to sample, and 



