THE RULE OF Mr! GEORGE LANE FOX. gi 



1862-63. The harvest was a late one, and much corn 

 was uncut when the cub-hunting season started on September 

 20th, at Bramham Park. Although it was a short cubbing 

 season it was a fairly successful one, ten and a half brace of 

 cubs being accounted for. Fog and frost seem to have taken it 

 in turns to hinder and embarrass hunting men. The opening 

 day of the season was at Riffa, on November 3rd, and then 

 they had to wait a considerable time f<M- the fog to clear. 

 It only partially cleared, however, and hounds, who had found 

 in Riffa Wood, were soon lost. They ran straight to Boar 

 Holes, where they were found at an earth, having marked 

 their fox to ground. The day was a very moderate one, 

 and is only mentioned as an example of the troubles which 

 were to follow in November. They had one or two very 

 good runs, notably a hard day on the 15th, from Plompton 

 Bar. They were running hard all day, and finally killed 

 a fox near Compton. Mr. Pox characterises the day's sport 

 as 'excellent hunting.' 



If November had brought store of disappointments, 

 December began well, and went on even better. The first 

 dav thev had in their Pridav countrv in P^ecember was a 

 forecast of what was to happen later. 



'December 5th. Deighton Bar. Found in Ingmanthorpe 

 ' Whin ; went away to Geldart's plantation, short back, 

 'crossed the Boroughbridge road, pointing for North 

 ' Deighton ; straight to the river Nidd, crossed between 

 ' Walshford and Ribston bridges, across Ribston Park, 

 ' over the river again beyond the house, through Bramham 

 ' Wood, left Plompton Rocks on the right up to Rudding 

 ' Park, ran on the low side, came to a check on the bleach- 

 ' ground. Fifty minutes; never cast. Hunted along the 

 ' Crimple side, and by Mr. Redcliffe's farm towards Spacey 

 ' House Whin. Here we were unfortunately hallooed away 

 'with a fresh fox, and were beat.' 



