96 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



of his hand on the other. Hounds still rattling on ahead, and 

 each moment worth a pocketful of a sportsman's gold. But a 

 huntsman's cap is like a knight's sworn gage — to lose it would 

 be disgrace ; so Mr. Foster and the huntsman have both to 

 dismount. Thirty seconds seem three hom'S ; but they can 

 afford even this, so far have they forged ahead of all others — 

 save the master and Caj)t. Barker, who are working round wide 

 on the left. Firr's horse is already gasping, and he is glad of 

 a gate before reaching the Asfordby Lane, while Mr. Foster 

 flies the four rails at its side. Only one more stake and bound 

 — wide, high, and extra-finished — before the road above 

 Asfordby is crossed and the four reunite. Over the hill to 

 Saxelby they have only to squeeze their horses and avoid the 

 danger of another wire. Just as the village is reached the 

 hounds throw up ; a holloa back proclaims the fox has been 

 forced to double in the face of the pursuing field, and the 

 quick part of the run is over. For twenty minutes they had 

 been flying over the very stiffest piece of the Quom country — 

 too stifi", in fact, as it was impossible to live exactly in the 

 track of the hounds, who, however, slipped through the hedges 

 in an extraordinary way, and packed as close as mackerel 

 throughout. 



After turning back to Saxelby they went straight away for 

 some seven miles from point to point, at last accounting for 

 their fox at a stone culvert under a gateway, a mile or so 

 beyond Goadby Gorse. It took them more than another hour 

 to get there ; passing Welby Fishpond without entering it, 

 thence on by Sysonby Lodge, close past Melton Spinney, and 

 through Goadby Gorse. Altogether it was a splendid run, con- 

 taining both a gTand burst and a great deal of pretty hunting. 

 Everybody seemed overflowing with ride ; and yet the hounds 

 liad fair play throughout the day. 



