THAT WICKED BRAUNSTOX BROOK 335 



accountable. That such misfortune, by tlie way, was not 

 quite singular, is to be proved by the fact that for a single 

 iron, subsequently brought on by a friendly farmer, 

 there were at least three bedraggled and insistent 

 claimants. 



No matter, 1 presume you were with hounds as they 

 rattled round Badby Wood. 1 dare not assume, without 

 your assurance, that you were with them when ten minutes 

 later they emerged from the big covert — two foxes before 

 them, one behind them. "That's your fox. Master!" 

 insisted John to his chief. " He's gone for Braunston, 

 and I know him, and I've seen him before." Gladly and 

 decidedly did our huntsman take up the cue. What good 

 in March to hang back upon the vixen in covert ? let me 

 emphasise. It is at such times that a huntsman may 

 make a run. It is at such times that keen and deter- 

 mined whippers-in can best serve his interest and those 

 of true sport. The dog fox had gone ; and, if he had 

 stolen a minute's start, what matter on a scenting 

 day ? 



So for twenty more minutes, over a rough country. — 

 a first, deep-banked, and casualty-stricken brook included 

 — hounds ran hard. And at the end of those twenty 

 minutes the field closed up, Staverton Hill having been 

 touched on its left, and now only the oft-told tale of 

 Shuckburgh and Braunston in front. 'Twould take ten 

 penmen and ten pencilmen (given twenty good horses 

 among them) to portray with all licence half that took 

 place hereafter. For my humble part I can only now 

 trot soberly along the line. Fun ! Bless you, sirs, there 

 was no end to it ! But how much of it dare I bring back ? 

 None of it. I trust I know " my place " too well. And 

 " all along of " that ridiculous Braunston Brook — at 

 which we arrived, not in hot haste, but in cool leisure, 

 not once but thrice, to suffer in turn with few exceptions, 

 and these, I protest, the least noble. Thus, for instance, 

 he who skimmed it readiest on first arrival, afterwards 

 succumbed earliest. (Mark you, our neighbour's blue 

 flags had been set with a view to jumping from Braun- 

 ston way, and thus became mere wrecking signals when 



