A GREAT WEEK AETER FROST 433 



Run really over. One hour to the minute. To ground 

 then near Debdale Wharf, on the canal side. A hearty 

 run, a fine point, and a trying line. 



Have you noticed how, on certain days — the best 

 scenting days probably — bullocks and sheep have power 

 to stain a line to the utter confusion of a pack, while on 

 other, less happy scenting, hounds can readily make their 

 way through herd or flock ? Spring may have something 

 to do with this, and the clean ground, after frost, quite as 

 much. But the fact, I believe, remains ; and it has been 

 especially noticeable since the break-up of the recent long 

 and diabolical frost. 



Let me not omit mention of the admirable riding of the 

 boy Sumners, who on his little grey thoroughbred accepted 

 every big fence that was set him and rode near the leaders 

 throughout. 



IJ\y/ni'S(fi7y, March 13. — A fourth good day in suc- 

 cession. In no spirit of impiety say I, thank Heaven! 

 for that such delight has come to us after many weary 

 weeks. 



Crick Gorse was the fons et origo of to-day's sport. 

 You may remember that overnight the North Warwickshire 

 left it just untouched on their way to Lilbourne. The 

 near presence of the seething chase probably led the 

 inmates of the covert to suppose that here was a real 

 sanctuary. At any rate they had not moved. With one 

 of them we darted to Hilmorton Gorse, one and a half 

 miles awav, in quicker time than I ever saw this common 

 route effected. Twenty minutes then, and to ground in a 

 rabbit warren by Kilsby Tunnel. 



Back to Crick Covert — a level sixpence against another 

 lind — then a capital forty minutes by the left of Yelvertoft 

 village to Elkington Covert (some five miles distant) to 

 _:: ound. And this happened across the best of Northamp- 

 nshire borderland. If you chance to know the Crick 

 and Yelvertoft undulations, you know some of the sweetest 

 ground in England. And I need tell you no further but 

 ask you to imagine the galloping and jumping, and the 

 chance hounds had when bullocks or sheep (heaps of them 

 this winter, and with a demoralising scent of their own) 



2 E 



