THE GOLDEN AGE 



for Dembleby, but when in the valley he bore away to 

 Patman's Wood, where he ran the rides ; away again running 

 the bridle road nearly to Heydour Hill, he turned away 

 to the right over the Kelby fields straight away to the 

 Ancaster Hills, Holes Plantation, where hounds gave him 

 one turn, and away over the gorse, where he crept into a 

 rabbit hole after a tremendous run of two hours and forty- 

 five minutes, one hour and twenty minutes to change ; the 

 first forty-five minutes without more than a momentary 

 check, the latter the same. We dug him out and killed him. 

 A tremendous large old dog fox. A real out and out good 

 day's sport. George the first whipper-in's horse died, and 

 so did Mr. Bellamy's, of Sleaford. Banker, Layman, Barbara 

 (twelve good marks). Scornful, Sailor, Sempstress, Phillis, and 

 Charlotte all distinguished themselves. 



" A most beautiful hunting morning, west-south-west and 

 a rising glass. I rode my good old horse Catch-me-who-can 

 first. Prince second. 



" Those who rode well to the hounds at the finish were 

 Sir Thomas Whichcote, who had three horses out, Mr. 

 Welby, of Allington, Lord Granby, who pulled through on 

 one horse, Mr. Newcome, Mr. Houson, Colonel Reeve, Mr. 

 Litchford, of Boothby, having attained his seventy-second 

 year this day and as cheery as a youth. Mr. Young, of 

 Wilsford, also was there, myself, with Jem and George, my 

 whips, and Mr. Garner, of Willoughby Heath Farm. 



" I never saw hounds work more beautiful and struggle 

 through the ploughs, which were for them knee deep all 

 day ; every hound struggled through very stout in- 

 deed." 



This was a season of good sport, for on February the i8th 

 hounds " got away from everybody except Lord Forester 

 and Mr. Hardy, the banker ; the fox was eaten before any 

 one else could get there. Thus ended, on April the 24th, 

 the best season's sport I ever saw in my life. The most 

 good runs with kills at the finish " — Will thought nothing 

 of a run unless his whipper-in brought home the mask at 

 his saddle — " and performed in the most scientific manner 



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