BOOTLAXD AXl) WOODLAXD 401 



wood at hand, to which we were taken to look for a fox, 

 and by-and-by struck a hne outside. With check and 

 difficulty, and many a rabbit-hole to beguile the way, we 

 were carried across ploughed fields and numerous little 

 fences, of suitable fashion it might happen for educating 

 a young horse, to the grounds of Rushton Hall. With 

 cool self-contidence our fox threaded not only the lawn 

 and garden, but afterwards the village street. Then 

 ensued a discussion of some length and clamour among 

 the villagers as to which way the huntsman should be 

 directed. This being brought to a close by the good 

 man deciding the point for himself, we followed him and 

 hounds for a while tow^ards Geddington Chase— the great 

 covert looming dark as a devouring monster against the 

 near horizon. But we were saved engulfment by our fox 

 bearing off to his left ; and, passing Pip well, skirted Carlton 

 Forest, while hounds made the pace warmer as he turned 

 towards the north-westerly gale. Pressing onward, they 

 ran hard up to the drain well-known to the foresters, in a 

 field near Stoke Wood, and not far from the familiar meet 

 of Dob Hall. 



The run over, the storm, having treated us thus honour- 

 ably, came forward in its turn ; and as they huddled, back 

 to wind, against a hedge that gave no shelter, the Pytchley 

 presented a forlorn and piteous aspect. Within the hour 

 I had remarked, who claim to know the Woodlands fairly 

 well, that never surely had so many coats of scarlet 

 enlivened this quiet country-side, and this though 

 weather-glass and weather-sign and forecast had to-day 

 combined to put a large majority into mufti. For you 

 must know, in the merry, merry woodlands of Rock- 

 ingham, Brigstock, Carlton, and adjoining forests, one in 

 pink — he probably the secretary — besides Master and 

 men, make up not uncommonly a field, as far as colour 

 is concerned. Beyond these, there are a dozen or so, 

 soberly clad, sportsmen of the best calibre ; but occa- 

 sionally not even the one is found to redeem the colour- 

 less aspect of the little field. This much in passing, and 

 no offence to the best woodlands in E!ngland, that I love 

 right well. 



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