78 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Seasox 



years than this. But two or three blank draws this season 

 had so far obscured its ancient glory, that to-day there was 

 little of the eager expectancy shown that has so ofteli been an 

 attribute of a visit here. Hard men and keen were content to 

 coffee-house and loiter about while it was being drawTi, and 

 seemed taken by surj^rise when Gillard's unmistakable note 

 told that a fox was away. However, they all got round b}'' the 

 time the hounds were out, and every man started as good as 

 his neighbour. It was of coui'se a matter of moment to get 

 quickly over the first two or three crowded fences ; but after 

 this the question was simple enough, being merely whether 

 your horse could go and stay. The fences took some jump- 

 ing, but they were equally to be jumped everywhere, so there 

 was none of the waiting for your turn so heart-rending when 

 hounds are forging ahead. They were now running up wind 

 with a scent that kept them ever straining their utmost, and 

 from end to end it was a steeplechase. Indeed, there chanced 

 to be no less than four steeplechase cracks riding in the van — 

 four gallant captains, whose knowledge of pace has often been 

 jjroved at Rugby, at Windsor, and at Liverpool. Of these 

 (Capts. Tempest, Smith, Riddell, and Barker) the last named 

 not only suffered the unpleasantness of being dug out from 

 underneath his mare, but still further misfortune awaited him 

 in finding her back was broken. Rumour tells me that yet 

 other mishap befeU some of the quartette ; but this is not my 

 busmess. Col. Forester, too, was ably supporting the British 

 army — so far as young blood (his horse's) would allow. Lord 

 Grey de Wilton and Gillard were riding side by side, and Mr. 

 Turnor, of Stoke, showed that they have not yet become pro- 

 vincial in the Vale of Belvoii'. With one or two exceptions, 

 all the rest of the field were completely choked off by the 

 extremity of the pace, and the depth of the half-dozen dis- 

 tressing ploughs that occurred before reaching Woodwell 

 Head. On the way a slight detour had been made towards 

 Wymondham; but there was no moment of breatliing time 

 tlu'oughout. After running the covert, the run was over at 



