1S73-74.] A LEICESTERSHIRE BURST. 133 



A LEICESTERSHIRE BURST {THE DOCTOR 



LEADS). 



A srLEN'Dii) spechueii of ii Leicestershire burst was tlie 

 Quorn gallop of Friday, January IGtli. Twenty-five minutes 

 without a vestige of a check (thirty-two minutes, quick, in all) 

 over a superb grass country, and hounds holding a trifle the 

 best of their field from end to end. Such a run, in fact, as the 

 profannm vuhjus of tlie hunting world imagine to be an every- 

 day occm-rence in the Shires, but for which Ave who sojourn 

 here often wait weeks, in ordinary seasons at all events — and 

 then, perhaps, fail to see. Indeed, how many fine riders were 

 there gathered at Great Dalby that morning ? Some two 

 hundred, all eager, well mounted, and capable ; besides the 

 numbers of lesser degree who go to make up even such a choice 

 field as always muster there. And how many, from mishap, 

 miscalculation, or other mischance, failed to see this fine gallo]) 

 throughout? To see it, I mean, in tlie full and recognised 

 sense of the term, not as those who held a place through only 

 a part, nor those who followed the line, pursuing horsemen 

 rather than hounds, nor as those who nicked in by means of a 

 lucky road, nor even as those Avho jumped into the field where 

 the hounds had just thrown up, and then looked round on still 

 later comers — that at least they might indulge in the pride of 

 precedence over them. To see it, as each of these would 

 ansAver to his innermost soul requiring "yes" or "no" foi' 

 its answer ; not Avitli the elasticity of definition that special 

 occasion, or the A-anity of long-established reputation, may bid 

 him employ ; but to see it, turning and Avorking Avitli the pack, 

 not for the sake of being hctter than his neighbour, but to 

 be independent of him, near enough to Avatch the foremost 

 hounds, and taking his cue from them and nothing else. This 

 is Avhat Ave all strive for and asi)ire to ; and no Avonder it is 

 found so difiicult of attainment, Avhen one is but an unit of a 

 struggling mass, in Avliich individual action is almost sAvamped 



