1871—72.] A BUEST IX THE SUNSHINE. 45 



A BURST IN THE SUNSHINE FROM SCRAPTOFT 



GORSE. 



ScRAPTOFT GoRSE gavG just sucli another sharp, delightful 

 scuny as it did last year, ending just as prematurely. There 

 was little or no excitement about the find ; in fact, the fox 

 found himself, and lost no time in breaking covert in front 

 of the crowd who were penned up in the narrow lane. The 

 hounds sprang out instantly to the master's horn, and were 

 away on his line before half the band of hard men had ex- 

 tricated themselves. An unfortunate veteran was dismounted 

 right in the gangway, and, amid the struggling sea of horse- 

 men, was tossed about hither and thither till he got separated 

 from his horse, and for very existence was straining every nerve 

 to regain his lifebuoy. No one stopped to help the man over- 

 board, but some apparentl}^ rather reviled him for hindering their 

 passage. Once clear of the gateway there was a choice between 

 keeping on the grass a little wide to the left, or floundering 

 through the single fallow on the track of the pack. The former 

 was doubtless the proper course, but at such moments it is 

 necessary to decide promptly, and a prompt decision is too 

 often a wrong one. Still, to hesitate at a start is to lose a run, 

 so a trot over the plough is the determination, and the pack 

 make headway at twice the pace you can afford to. What an 

 effort of patience it requires to go slow through the deep dirt ! 

 but once on the turf again, you may conscientiously drive the 

 prickers in, and catch hold of his head. The fox, like all Scrap- 

 toft foxes, knew not his oAvn mind on leaving his doorstep ; for, 

 after heading at first direct for Keyham, he swung away at 

 right angles. There could not fail to be a scent to-day — the air 

 was clear and still as in a frost — and the hounds raced away at 

 Liverpool speed. But the sun was bright and dazzling — some 

 of the best of horses seemed completely stupified by it — and 

 the similarity to the little spin of last year was further increased 

 by the pantomimic tumbling of the front rank. What tales we 

 who were behind could tell — of how two acknowledged chieftains 



