38 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



we had a capital run of one hour and a quarter, through Radwood, leaving Aston 

 Cliffe to the left, over the brook by the Bitterns, across Barr Hill, pointing for 

 Wrinehill, through Vickers Beech, Onneley, and Woore ; then to the left through 

 Gravenhunger, by Moor Hall to Aston, where he took refuge in a bakehouse 

 oven, which afforded him but little respite, as the pack soon marked his where- 

 abouts, and, one of them, bounding into the oven, soon dislodged him, but in 

 making liis exit he met with a warm reception, having to jump into the mouths 

 of his pursuers. 



Thursday, l^th. — Met at Draycot. Found in the Hose Wood, one of the 

 right sort. He went away at a chpping pace through Bromley Wood, leaving 

 the Ox Leasows on the right by Spot Gate, running close to Moddershall, then 

 to the left by Cotwalton, across Hardiwick Heath, pointing for Sandon, then to the 

 right by Bm'ston, thi'ough the Hollywood, leaving Hilderstone on the right by 

 the Bird-in-Hand, Sherratt's Wood, and Oulton House, to Orange Hayes, where 

 they whipped off, after running nearly three hours over a heavy country with 

 stiff fences, and the pace good. The horses, what few were left, were dead beat, 

 and many a good 'un " had long before had enough." 



From the Field, February 13th, 1863: 



THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



This pack met on Wednesday last at Whitmore Station, where they had an 

 excellent day's sport, the pleasure being much heightened by again seeing the 

 Master in the pigskin, and it proved one of the best scenting days of the season. 

 The first fox was found in Hay Sprink, which cover he never left, and although 

 the ground must have been foiled over, they never checked, killing in fifteen 

 minutes a fine dog fox. They next found at the New Gorse, Maer Hall, a 

 stout 'un, and one of the right sort. He went away merrily for Standon Rough, 

 then, turning through Shortwood, went back to Maer Hills, where he was allowed 

 no respite ; again taking the open, and making almost the same ring as before, 

 evidently trying for the second time to get back to the gorse he had first left, 

 this being situated on a hill, but the pace he had then gone for sixty-five minutes 

 no doubt prevented his accomplishing it. He then pointed for Swynnerton Park, 

 bearing to the right for Hatton Bogs, but was too closely pressed to dwell, and. 

 after another ring, got back to the cover he was found in, on entering which he 

 was picked up by the gallant pack, after a run of one hour and forty minutes, 

 comparatively speaking unassisted and without a check. From the elevated 

 ground at the finish might be seen the jaded steeds tailing off, some one or two 

 miles, the pace, considering the state of the ground, having been very severe. 

 The pack was hunted by Joe Maiden, who had rather a singular mishap in the 

 middle of the run, riding with his neck against a clothes-line with such force as 

 to break the cord, and, as the veteran jocularly remarked, proving that he was 

 not born for the noose. 



It is noteworthy that this was Maiden's last good day 

 with the hounds. He retired next month, at the con- 

 clusion of the season, and died on October 20th, 1864, in 

 his seventieth year. 



There are few huntsmen who have earned a higher 



