108 THE CKEAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



They soon brought their cub back to Gartree Hill, and took 

 him away again for a few minutes' i^leasant gallop in much the 

 same direction. He then went to ground ; was bolted in the 

 midst of a frightful thunder and hail storm, which in five 

 minutes wetted everyone to the skin, and drove horses into a 

 desperate state of terror ; and was soon afterwards hunted to 

 his death. 



As the afternoon cleared up, and the sun came out warm and 

 bright to assist the sherry flasks in restoring circulation to 

 shivering forms, hounds were taken to Adam's Gorse for a 

 second draw. Formerly they seldom found here, but to-day 

 the " old lady on the white horse " of nurser}' memory might 

 have been riding with them, for there was music wherever they 

 went ; and no sooner were tlie hounds in than they set up an 

 uproar that started foxes from the little place like rabbits 

 bolted from a burrow. There were three, if not four, in it, and 

 tliey broke away in all directions one after another. There 

 was not a good scent, so they could onl}' hunt one slowly by 

 Great Dalby, to lose him at Gartree Hill. Still there was 

 houndwork to watch and fences to jump ; and the cheerful 

 prospects that had been brought out sent everyone home in 

 the sweetest of tempers. 



A SCURRY OVER THE MELTON STEEPLE- 

 CHASE COURSE. 



If the Cottesmore began well on Tuesday (Nov. 4), they 

 thoroughly confirmed their form on the Saturday following 

 with as good a day's sport as is often seen. The present 

 season has indeed opened Avith unexampled eclat on all sides — 

 every pack having shown sport, and each day being pro- 

 ductive of something enjoyable ; while the state of the ground 

 is everything that can be desired for riding and hunting 

 purposes. 



