1870—71.] A FINE RUN WITH THE PYTCHLEY. 13 



even to get on their horses. Carriages there were, as there 

 always are at the Pytchley meets, in greater quantity and 

 greater qaahty than elsewhere ; and, moreover, there was a 

 much Lirger preponderance of hard-riding men than have of 

 late composed tlie field. A good many of these perhaps came 

 out solely for their gallop, or, as Roake in his agon}^ took it, 

 with malice aforethought to disconcert his views ; but still it 

 was more like a return to old form to see not only Coventry, 

 Rugby, and the neighbourhood, but Harborough, Aldershot, 

 London, and Windsor, sending worthy champions to deck the 

 gathering and give the hunt an impetus. That they did give 

 it an impetus is undeniable, though it is equally so that the 

 exuberant scent of the morning alone prevented that impetus 

 from being a mischievous one. 



From Kilworth Village to Kilworth Sticks is the accepted 

 order of things ; and the ordmary routine was strictly followed 

 out by finding the old dog fox that has this season whisked his 

 brush at them twice before alread}'. Now, with a rattling 

 scent they drove him over the two or three fields to the 

 Harborough and Lutterworth turnpike, and without a pause 

 past the little spinneys below Kilworth House. The going 

 was all grass, the pace as good as it need be, and the fences 

 delightful — being stiff' enough and frequent enough even for a 

 " spring captain," (an epithet that the inhabitants use when 

 they begin to find that they themselves are growing sticky and 

 can scarcely keep pace with the visitors). AVith the hounds 

 close glued to him, he crossed the road between North and 

 South Kilworth, and, without a moment to expend on his usual 

 dodge of skirting the Old Covert of the latter place, struck at 

 once over the river Avon for Hemplow. Those who were well 

 with the hounds were scarce hindered a moment, for a sandy 

 bottom enabled them to jump over the rails on the near side 

 and splash readily out again ; and, dipping under the railway, 

 which held out a convenient arch just in front, they stole a 

 march on all who were riding cunning. Consequently, as tht- 

 hounds raced on to the Hemplow Hills there were scarcely a 



