14 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



dozen men with tliem — among whom the Devonshu'e green 

 collar of Mr. Downall was conspicuously prominent. 



Five-and-thirty minutes to the hills, hrilUant both for pace 

 and country, and delightful to men who can find joy in 

 watching hounds that have nose cnoiujli to hrinr/ out tlieir sjieed, 

 and with whom to push a good horse along in good company 

 is a true happiness. 



Throughout the gallop INIr. Muntz's sturdy figure continually 

 caught the eye, and showed that they know a thing or two 

 ■«ith the Atherstone, for which, perhaps, the other side of 

 Leicestershire did not give them credit. Mr. Trotter one 

 always sees ; for whenever he gets a fall everybody is in the 

 proper place to see him get up again. To-day he only got five ; 

 but as he rode three fresh horses, there was every excuse for 

 him. By the way, speaking seriously, the Rugby country is 

 suffering the greatest loss in the departure of the Coventry de- 

 tachment. No corps ever before sent such a knot of hard and 

 good riders to represent them here as the Fifth, in the persons 

 of Captains Kennedy and Pritchard, Messrs. Soames and 

 Trotter ; nor will the country soon forget the sporting enter- 

 prise of the little partj^ in entertaining more than the whole 

 neighbourhood a montli ago. 



A SPURT FROM SCRAPTOFT. 



Friday, February 10th, with the Quorn, was what might 

 be termed a disappomting day ; for, though there was some- 

 thing for everybody, and a great deal of galloping, jumping, 

 and hunting, the bright prospects ever just failed of fulfilment, 

 and the sweets of perfection were two or three times tasted 

 onl}^ sufficiently to cause double disappointment at their loss. 

 Still there was a good run, though the fact that it just missed 

 being the very best of the season causes a feeling of annoyance 

 at the accident that alone spoiled its character. 



