22 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIEE. [Season 



Master have jeered at the green pastures and flying fences of 

 which we talk so much, relating to them in Lincolnshire how he 

 had found only rotten sport and sticky plough ; or Col. Kings- 

 cote have bid the men of Gloucestershire hug themselves over 

 their Greatwood run, telling them that in the Shires in the 

 present day, they might live with hounds on foot ! 



By a happy stroke of genius the hounds were thrown into the 

 gorse (without regard to wind), so as to cut off any outlet on 

 the side of the dread district where precious time had already 

 been spent ; the field were drawn up in the road well clear of 

 the covert, and there were none of the usual crowd of foot people 

 to mob poor Reynard at his first attempts. Scarce a cheer had 

 broken the stillness ere there came travelling down the wind a 

 clattering, happy chorus, a message of hope and promise. No 

 need of cheer or holloa to press them to the cry ; every hound 

 had it, and every hound meant business. But so did their 

 gallant quarry, caring not to hide or twist, but ready at once to 

 accept the challenge. Taking his path straight through the 

 thicket, he arrived at its edge before the noisy throng he 

 appeared to despise were half-Avay across its breadth, trotted 

 quietly over the road before the horsemen, looked round as if to 

 take stock of the company, whisked his white tag in the face of 

 Royalty, then turned out of the road, and cantered quietly away 

 over the grass. Not a single holloa marked his exit ; the body 

 of good sportsmen were too intent on a run to imperil their 

 chances by the noisy exultation that too often nips sport in the 

 bud, and only a low murmur of satisfaction broke the stillness. 

 But, Reynard once clear of the road, the master was on his 

 track in a moment, cheered the hounds to the spot with voice 

 and horn, and one on the top of the other they came dashing 

 forth, open-mouthed and bristle-backed. No restraining voice 

 was wanted with the choice little field so eagerly burning to be 

 away ; the gate out of the road was quickly pitched out of its 

 fastening, and one and all waited for the opening note that 

 should give the word " Go." Half a dozen couple burst out 

 together, summoned sisters and brothers to the call, fairly 



