1871—72.] AFTER THE HARBOROUGH BALL. 49 



The Field should relieve one hour of existence on the 

 broiling ■ plains of India. Strange, though true, both these 

 good coverts refused to provide amusement for the multitude 

 who had come from near and far to see them drawn ; and 

 Sunderland Wood was the next stoppage named on the 

 journey. But on the way thither Mr. Glover, of Harrington, 

 came to the rescue, represented that for weeks past he had 

 maintained a brace of foxes on his farm and poultry yard, and 

 suggested the advisability of their ridding him of his vulpine 

 Soapy Sponges. Accordingly the leading squadrons of the 

 field were thrown into skirmishing order, and proceeded to 

 scour stubble and fallow. Reynard and the missis were both 

 on the premises ; but so thoroughly at home did they consider 

 themselves in the annexed territory that they were loath to 

 believe in the possibility of intrusion, and refused to notice it 

 till almost whipped out of their seats. The ruder villain 

 jumped up within a few yards of the hounds, and nearly 

 sacrificed himself in drawing off their attention from his lady. 

 Over the first field he had the greatest difficulty in keeping his. 

 black brush clear — with the leading hounds open-jawed for a 

 snatch at it. A thickly-stacked rickyard gave him twenty 

 yards more room, and at the second fence he earned a still 

 further advantage, for he doubled quickly down the side of it, 

 and the bristling pack shot half over the next field in their 

 mad eagerness. They swing round again in a moment ; but 

 that lost moment is never fiiirly retrieved. Straight for Loat- 

 land Wood he is pointing — his dark dingy form still visible to 

 the thrusting mob that would press the hounds if they could. 

 By nose it is now, though there is a scent that a man could 

 run, and they are straining to it as if he were still close in 

 view. The fences are not to be taken in every place, and, 

 strong as is the hard element to-day, the front division thins 

 and lengthens out as it struggles in pursuit. At the meet 

 to-day by no mean* were they all " dancing dervishes " — an 

 epithet which one sorely-tried M. F. H. in the neighbourhood 

 bestowed on the ball-going fraternity wlio favoured him and 



