114 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



by foxhunters, though for them it might have been made to 

 order. They had onl}' to travel a few hundred yards to be 

 among a legion of foxes; for Thrussington this year is a perfect 

 club, drawing-room, and nursery for whole vulpine families. 

 They got away at the bottom of Thrussington Wolds with the 

 first one — always half the odds in favour of a run — and started 

 on good terms, with the fairest of countries in front. But three 

 fields away he was headed and turned on to the ploughs 

 towards Cossington ; hounds had to put their noses down ; 

 disappointment seemed the only thing in store ; and the faint- 

 hearted gave up the gallop as lost. For half a mile the line 

 was thus taken but slowly ; when in a moment they turned off" 

 on to the gi'ass, and plunged into the Hob}^ valley, lying 

 temptingly on their left. How they sped over the turf of these 

 fine old pastures ; how they ran their fox into view at the end 

 of tlie first quarter of an hour from now ; and how for the 

 next ten minutes men had to gi-applc with the Hoby and 

 Ragdale oxers with blown horses (as the}'^ bore round again to 

 Six Hills), wanted littje more eloquence to teU than was con- 

 veyed in the perspiring faces and soiled scarlet of riders, 

 and in the sobbing sides of steeds. No finer and at the same 

 time no stiflfer line than this could have been chosen. Captain 

 Smitli was cutting out most of the work, with Lord Helmesley, 

 Mr. Coupland, and the huntsman on excellent terms. Several 

 others were doing full justice to themselves and the good 

 burst, but the field generally were rather widely scattered. 

 Once again was the run fox saved by the help of fresh ones ; 

 for, as they once more neared the Thrussington coverts there 

 were at least two others on foot before the hounds, and so 

 their game escaped them. 



Equally bad luck did they and the huntsman experience in 

 the afternoon. This time the run began from Thrussington 

 New Covert, in and out of which foxes had been moving all 

 day like fowls from a barn. Starting with one from the north 

 side, they followed him slowjy over a villainous countr}'- round 

 the back of Six Hills ; but by perseverance hunted up to him 



