122 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



From the Field, February 3rd, 1883 : 



" These hounds met on Monday, January 29th, at Darlaston Hall. The rain 

 ■was falling in torrents, and the outlook from the breakfast-room was most 

 uninviting ; but true sportsmen are seldom stopped except by frost. On arriving 

 at the meet, rather wet, the hounds were already'' there, also the much-esteemed 

 and respected Master. It may be excused if ' a little something warm,' kindly 

 provided by the owner of the hall, was indulged in on such a morning as this. 

 The weather improved, however, about this time, and ceased raining eventually, 

 and it was well we left our covert coats behind, for every pound would tell in 

 what was to come. Darlaston Wood was not a success — no blame to the owner, 

 who is a good preserver; nor had we better luck at Micklow. Shallowford 

 Gorse was then drawn ; the hounds have gone through it— no sound, not even a 

 whimper from a young one. But soon all was changed, and we see a fox sprinu; 

 from the covert side in the place the hounds were thrown in; he must have lain 

 still until they got to the other end of the covert, when out he came and straight 

 away. 'Tally-ho! Away,' soon brought Dickins with his darlings, and had 

 them on his line. Straight for the boggy brook they go ; the first misfortunes of 

 the day began here — two or three overboard. On the pack go, heads up and 

 sterns down, with lots of music, showing the scent was good. The knowing 

 ones observed these things, and kept well up, but lay to a little, doing nothing 

 unnecessary ; they had their revenge. When the ' tug of war ' came, as it did 

 come, they secured the place of honour, and they went across Mr. William Ball's 

 farm, heading towards the Black Planting, bending again to the right towards 

 Yarlet, still to the right, to the old turnpike at Whitgreave. This was the first 

 indication of a check, if only for a few minutes. Dickins soon put them right, 

 and again settled down, going a racing pace to Whitgreave Wood ; leaving this 

 to his right, straight back to Shallowford. Horses began to show symptoms of 

 distress, hounds gaining fast on us, first one, then two, three, and four fields 

 ahead ; and on they went, crossing the Norton Bridge and Stone Road, on to Mr. 

 Darlington's farm, on across the North Stafford Railway, crossing the road from 

 Yarnfield to Stone, sti-aight to Darlaston Wood, and on to Tittensor Common. 

 No dwelling, no shadow of a check, no friendly two or three minutes for the 

 poor horses ; on, on they went, crossing the road from Swynnerton to Trentham. 

 On, on, is still the word, to Groundslow, and still on to Hanchurch Plant, through 

 this to Harley Thorn and Swynnerton Old Park. How was it this fox did not 

 take advantage of the place of refuge (for it is full of foxes, thanks to the 

 owner) ? If he had gone on, a fresh fox would have been sure to befriend him. 

 He turns his head again to Hanchurch Plant, and who-whoop was the result. 

 Time, one hour and twenty-eight minutes ; distance from the two extreme points, 

 ten miles as the crow flies ; adding the distance from Shallowford to turnpike, 

 Whitgreave, and divergences, the distance covered could not be much less than 

 thirty miles. I cannot close without giving a deserved tribute to all the officials — 

 Dickins, as huntsman ; Boxall, first whip ; and Challinor, second whip. They all 

 did well and rode well. Boxall had two falls; we were glad to see there was no 

 harm done, as he seemed to rather enjoy them than otherwise. There were 

 indications of several having embraced mother earth, or rather mud, if you must 

 judge from the coat, and several good men were missing at the ' roll-call.' No 

 harm befell them, we hope. 



" Pink." 



