WITH THE MEADOWBROOK HOUNDS 373 



raised upon Long Island, viz. Gimcrack, by Bitoxi. Gim- 

 crack had been hunted only once or twice previously ; 

 but, having been well schooled at home, was able to go 

 faultlessly through the run. Mr. S. D. Ripley was on his 

 nice bay mare Molly, who also has won honours at the 

 shows. And here ends my knowledge of the members of 

 the field. I can only add that, as in Ireland, every one 

 who goes hunting upon Long Island must be on business 

 bent. There are few gates and fewer gaps, and shirking 

 is of no avail. 



The Westbury Plain, upon which the Meadowbrook 

 Club is situated, has almost the scope of Newmarket Heath, 

 and is level and rideable from end to end. Across this 

 trotted the little cavalcade, some twenty horsemen, while 

 a strong muster of carriages drove round the flank to 

 Westbury town. Among the charioteers were Mr. Whitney 

 (ex-secretary of the navy) and his daughter, Mrs. C. Carroll, 

 Mrs. T. Hitchcock, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Smith - Hadden, 

 Mrs. Peters, Miss Roby, Miss Marie, Miss Bird, &c. 

 Doubtless they were to some extent informed of the 

 intended course, for they reappeared in force no less 

 than three times during the run. Though there can be 

 but remote risk of their heading the fox, the presence of 

 a number of vehicles along an intersecting lane is said to 

 be at times not altogether without its dangers to riders 

 and drivers alike. For instance, it is on record that 

 at Newport, not long ago, one of the field of horse- 

 men jumped clean into the bodv of a landau, turning a 

 somersault, horseman on the further side, without damage 

 to anybody. 



Crossing the railway, the Master moved northward. 

 Already I had a vivid forboding of what was intended, 

 for had I not been reminded that north was the direction 

 when, two years ago, we were treated to Titus's Farm 

 and his well-known fences, and had not I heard it dis- 

 cussed overnight as to whether the run so confidently 

 ■oretold would be over the easy country south or that 

 '|n the contrary direction ? However, having long ago 

 emerged from that period of life when, having no fear, 

 'ue often affected it, and having on the contrary attained 



