312 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



(Men tell me that to-day they had to jump more of these 

 sterling ox-fences than they have sometimes jumped in 

 a season ; and certainly, as far as jumping enters into the 

 question, it seemed to me everybody accepted enthusias- 

 tically all that came in his or her way.) Goodall, by- 

 the-bye, was riding that dapper little brown which, upon 

 an obvious joke (the horse having been bought from 

 Mr. George Gee), we all now know as Gee-Gee, and on 

 which our huntsman recently immortalised himself by 

 hunting a hare to death with the Dallington beagles. 



At a killing pace now were hounds running on towards 

 VVelford ; and w^e looked for a view and for blood every 

 minute among these wide, open pastures where, at last, 

 the grass rode as velvet and yet scarce broke to the foot- 

 fall. But, alas for our finish, though hurrah for a good 

 fox ! Fortune favoured bold Charley, and robbed our 

 keen huntsman. The second whip caught the view, and 

 the latter did not catch his fox. Opposite South Kilworth 

 Covert, hounds and fox were in the same field. Goodall 

 galloped to the view, but beyond the railway they could 

 not touch it. Probably his fox may have run down the 

 line. At any rate the run was over — as joyous a burst 

 as we have seen for years. Thirty- five minutes exactly. 

 Extreme points five miles. 



Please do not suppose that, in venturing to deck my 

 sketch as I go along, I infer that those with whose names 

 I have taken liberties alone were prominent. On the con- 

 trary, never was a run more closely and yet more fairly 

 ridden. For instance, several other ladies were well 

 among the front rank throughout, viz. : Mrs. Graham, 

 Mrs. Byass, Mrs. Blacklock, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Chamber- 

 lain ; while, besides most of those in m.y list above who 

 constitute what I have heard termed " the regular lot " of 

 our riders to hounds, I may well example other farmers, 

 such as Mr. J. Cooper, Mr. T. Gilbert, jun., and the 

 brothers Howkins (sons of the good fellow who looks 

 after the well-being of Lilbourne Gorse. Why does not 

 one of you come forward in gratitude for to-day and 

 buy the slashing bay four-year-old that carried his boy 

 so well ?). 



