1872—73.] THE ASFORDBY RASPERS. 93 



THE ASFORDBY RASPERS. 



Such a run as fell to the lot of both the Qiiorn and Mr. 

 Tailb,y on Monday last, makes a bright spot that will sparkle 

 in memory long after the many late disappointments have gone 

 into utter oblivion. The final draw of the 13 el voir one day last 

 week was for nothing less than a kangaroo/ Towards the 

 close of the day a man came up with intelligence that one of 

 these animals, having escaped from captivity, was at large in 

 the neighbouring wood — adding that " he was afraid to shoot 

 it, for, having only a single-barrelled gun, he thought he might 

 wound it and be attacked by the savage beast." Accordingly 

 the hounds were set to search for their novel game ; when, 

 getting on to a fox, they finished the da}^ with an hour's run. 



A first fox, headed by footpeople and coursed by shepherd 

 dogs at Holwell Mouth, and afterwards outfaced by surrounding 

 rustics at Clawson Thorns, had nothing to do with the pith of 

 the day. Far from it, shivering forms and open powder-flasks 

 were the main features of the chilly hour spent above the 

 latter covert. A fox was killed, hounds and huntsman worked 

 very hard, and the two last-named earned what they most 

 deserved. 



Now to narrate the essence of the day's amusement — Welby 

 Fish Ponds for second draw, the field just ranging themselves 

 on the hillside above. Earl Wilton anxiously surveying his gift 

 to the hunt. Lord Grey of the same ilk mournfully nursing 

 his injured arm (no flattery is it to say that every man who 

 loves gallant riding feels a pang at the sight of the disablement 

 of one who leads a Melton field as he can). 



A holloa away over the plough before the hounds were in — 

 only a bridle gate to get through, and two hundred keen men 

 to pass it one at a time. The field had barely assembled in 

 the green field which formed their vantage ground, when the 

 sudden impulse from the sound of a find moved them like an 

 electric shock. After the covert was threaded there was time 

 to make up a plan of action while the huntsman was blowing 



