1871—72.] COLONKL CHAPLIN'S RUN IN A FOG. 43 



there were hounds missing from the other line of coveii, which 

 was engaging the attention of Macbride and his field. To steal 

 away with two or three couple of hounds from a covert would 

 no doubt be reprehensible in the extreme, as no sport could 

 result, and the efforts of the main body might be interfered 

 with ; but when it was a matter of eight couple and a half 

 sticking to the run fox, and going well, it would have been 

 unnatural, even if jjolitic, to attempt to stop tliem. 



The difficulty of the fallows was got over by a holloa in the 

 Tilton and Billesdon road just beyond. In front was a wild 

 hill}' country, but the best of sound turf and the cleanest of 

 fences, the latter made rather for keeping cattle in, than for 

 accommodating a solitary sportsman new to their expansive 

 nature. But the stranger was equal to the occasion, and no 

 doubt enjoyedhimself amazingly, with his little pack again well 

 together and streaming along fast enough to test the goodness 

 of his Melton mount. The unmistakable landmark of the 

 Coplow was beckoning them on, and, dipping into a low and 

 thickly fenced valley, they followed its course almost to the foot 

 of the hill. But two men in the road had prevented the fox 

 trespassing on the expected afternoon draw ; he had turned 

 into the httle spinneys bordering the hill, and there lay down 

 for a minute or so. He started off again when he found his 

 pursuers close at him ; but, instead of this helping them, they 

 puzzled for some five minutes over the twisted and foiled line, 

 and had just hit it off when Macbride suddenly galloped up 

 with the rest of the pack to their assistance. 



It seems that the fox that we had been following in full state 

 and in all due solemnity, under the idea that he was the original 

 find of John o' Gaunt, was an impostor from a foreign country ; 

 but, by a singular coincidence, he had broken nearly on the same 

 line as the true Roger, and had struck into his track some- 

 where about the two ploughed fields of which we have spoken. 

 From this point, Macbride's division (he thought the whip was 

 bringing on the remainder) had merely hunted up to their 

 predecessors, m3'stifying their huntsman by the slack, careless 



