1872—73.] A GOOD FINISH TO THE WEEK. 101 



such a clinker to Gartree Hill (going close to Guadaloupe and 

 well round Great Dalby) that every horse was ridden nigh to a 

 standstill in the deep ground. Hounds raced clear ahead the 

 whole way, Mr. Foster cutting out the work all the early part 

 of the run, closely followed by Firr, Mr. Adrian Hope (till his 

 horse refused), and Mr. Hassall — but as the run went on, posi- 

 tions varied constantly. Miss Cotton, at all events, was riding 

 in superb style all day, as she was also on the following 

 Wednesda}', After leaving Gartree Hill they went on without 

 pausing into and through the Punchbowl, and the first and 

 final check occurred between Pickwell and Somerby, the hounds 

 never having been cast or handled till now. However, they 

 lost their fox here in the most inexplicable way, Firr's after- 

 thought, that he might have taken advantage of one of some 

 very old ivy-covered trees in the hedgerow where they threw 

 up their heads, coming too late to be made any use of. 



On Saturday, March 8th, the Cottesmore began the day by 

 running clean into a splendid old fox in seventeen minutes 

 from Oakham Pastures round the Manton country, after which 

 they had some excellent sport from Owston Wood — and this 

 in spite of difficulties. After some time spent in the wood two 

 foxes broke simultaneously — the one towards Knossington, the 

 other to Whadboro' Hill — and the hounds divided upon them. 

 With the latter a few couple went away on a scent that pre- 

 vented their ever being caught till they reached John o' Gaunt, 

 then two or three more and the field started after them, and 

 the rest eventually followed. The pace was tremendous and 

 the country terrible, being chiefly plough, and intersected here 

 and there by ravines that not even a pigsticker could cross. 

 Lord Calthorpe and Mr. Palk alone got on something like 

 terms with the hounds after they had surmounted the Tilton 

 Hill. After this, the line, having just avoided John o' Gaunt, 

 led almost everyone to be entrapped by the Marfield Brook, 

 here unjumpable. The hounds then bore right round to the 

 right, the remainder of the field got choked at an awkward 

 place in an oxer above Marfield, which could only be got over 



