114 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



converted into a slow hunting run by Shaw's Wood, Milwich, and Fradswell, where 

 he was given up, after about thu'ty-five minutes, having got a long lead. Birch- 

 wood Park was the next draw, and in the heather a good fox was away like 

 lightning, over some rasping fences in the open, then through Sherratt's Wood, 

 and up wind by Garshall Green to a farm on the left of Hilderstone Hall, where, 

 finding the wind too strong, and the pack too close on him, Reynard turned back 

 almost on his tracks, and running down wind through Sherratt's Wood again, and 

 I'lindley's Covert, eventually got to ground in a rabbit-burrow near Dodsleigh. 

 Time, about forty minutes, and the first half as fast as we could go, with plenty 

 of big fences, and no crowd to stop you in your stride. After this came the 

 great run of the day ; as it was still early (about half-past one) , the noble Master 

 gave the word for Draycot Woods, and in Bromley Wood a real straight-necked 

 old customer was off before most sportsmen knew that Dickins had begun to 

 draw. The pack were on his line in a moment, and a very select few alone got 

 away with them. Through SheiTatt's Wood and Birchwood Park away we went 

 at a racing pace (the scent being most extraordinary down wind and with a cold 

 nor'-wester blowing), through Chartley Gorse, by Shaw Farm, Hand Leasow's 

 AVood, Chartley Park, over the Stafford and Uttoxeter road, and over the Stafford 

 and Uttoxeter Railway, to one of the Chartley coverts on the hill ; then, swinging 

 sharp to the left, he crossed the river Blythe by Blythebridge, and set his plucky 

 old ' phiz ' for Kingstone Wood. Through this we went without dwelling an 

 instant, on to Bagot's Woods and Bagot's Park, where, getting upon foiled ground 

 (the Meynell Hounds had been through the woods that afternoon), and upon 

 fresh foxes, Dickins reluctantly had to give up the chase about four o'clock, and 

 this gallant fox was left to run another day. Every horse was done to a turn, 

 and I grieve to say that the day's sport cost the present writer the life of a 

 favourite and gallant old hunter, which succumbed during the night from the 

 effects of her exertions. The only individuals who saw this straight and grand 

 run were S. Dickins, the huntsman, who went in his usual determined style, 

 Miss Thompson, Mr. Worrall, and your humble servant. Will Boxall, the able 

 first whip, being posted on the reverse side of Bromley Wood, had no chance of 

 a start, and was only able to catch them at the railway beyond Chartley Park. 

 Another sportsman and George Goddard, the second whip, also joined in at 

 Kingstone. Let anybody take up an Ordnance map and follow the names above 

 given, and he will see at once what a first-class run this was. Time, about one 

 hour and twenty minutes ; distance from point to point, about eleven miles. 



" Redcoat." 



Dickins says of this day's sport — 



"Found in Sandon Wood. Ran a ring and lost. Found a second on 

 Fradswell Heath. Ran very fast to Hilderstone and round to Brindley's Wood to 

 ground. Found another in Bromley Wood. Ran fast to Birchwood Park, on over 

 Chartley to Kingstone Wood, through and on to Bagot's Woods, and stopped 

 hounds. Horses beat." 



The preseot writer is the " Redcoat " of the above 

 newspaper account. Even at this distance of time he 

 would rather not dwell on the loss of his favourite mare, 

 " Gipsy Queen," above recorded. She was one of the very 

 l)est, game, clever, and speedy, and her loss to her owner 

 was more than can be told in words, for she had carried 



