THE RULE OF Mr. GEORGE LANE FOX. 



137 



a really good scenting day, and it is unnecessary for me to 



tell men of experience that a really good scenting day is 



of rare occurrence, and that there are plenty of seasons 



in which not one is to be found. After such a scent there 



is generally a little frost, and this was the case now ; though 



on the 3rd they were able to hunt at Bickerton Bar, when 



they found ' Bob-tailed George' at Nova Scotia, and were 



beaten by him as usual, though they got blood before they 



got home. They were going again in full swing on the 9th, 



and had sport up to the average, or rather over it, till the 



13th, when they had a splendid run : — 



'December 13th. Harewood Bridge. Found in Rougemont 



'Carr; lost. Found in Swindon Wood. Away very fast 



' up the hill ; past Kirkby Overblow to Parkin Wood and 



' vSpacey House Whin. Not a horse near them until they 



' reached Almscliff. Forty-five minutes. Forward over 



' Rigton Moor to the west end of Haverah Park, and on 



' to the Harrogate Road. Turned back ; left Beckwithshaw 



' Bar to the right, and lost near Thurtle's Whin. A fine 



' run — two hours ten minutes. Sixteen miles. A rare fox, 



' as the pace up to Haverah Park was great.' 



Fairly good sport continued till the end of the month. 



when they had a fine day's sport to celebrate the close of 



the year : — 



'December 31st. Deighton Bar. Found in Ingmanthorpe Old 

 ' Wood. Hunted to the river side, to ground below Walsh- 

 • ford Bridge. Found on Goose Moor, ran to Cowthorpe 

 ' Woods and towards Cattal Bridge ; lost. Tried Wilstrop ; 

 ' blank. A fox jumped up in turnip field adjoining Marston 

 ' Whin. The hounds, led by Friendly, raced him away 

 ' towards the village ; turned to the right, crossed the York 

 ' road, ran over Clayfield earths, past Nova Scotia, pointed 

 ' for Wighill village, and came to a check near the village, 

 ' owing to a fox having crossed the line, and two scents. 

 ' We went towards Shire Oaks, but finding the mistake, 

 ' trotted back, hit oft' the line of the run fox, and hunted 



