1874—75.] A KINO FROM THORPE TllUSSELS. 15'.) 



limit wiis reached, a strange bone made its appearance that 

 brought an instant chiUing check. The closest scrutiny, the 

 freest bluspheni}', could make it out nothing but a human 

 finger. Xo Channel passage could have acted more instanta- 

 neousl}' on the weakest of mortals than the discovery did on 

 these strong men — and not one of them could ever boast that 

 he had digested cannibal food. This is no made-up story ; I 

 received it and give it as true, and though the parallel may be 

 a strong one, I can vouch that the effect produced on many 

 organisations by the knowledge of having assisted at a cold- 

 blooded digging out, falls little short of the illustration. 



A lUXG FROM TIIOIWK TEUSSELS. 



The sport of Thursday, March lltli (I may almost say of 



that week, in the ]Melton country) was obtained from Thorpe 



Trussels, the way thither being comfortably varied at Baggrave. 



The little covert having f )ronce failed, the Colonel's invitation 



took the pack and the field cii masse up to the Hall, where the 



cup went round with material that (as was, or was not, proved 



in the coming gallop) might have 



thrown warmth into a Bourbon's Wood, 

 Nerved the enervate, given a dastard heart, 

 Made cowards l)rave, the lielpless hel[i themselves. 



So, reader, follow me to Thorpe Trussels and give me a lead 

 from it, only you must start like a sprint runner if j'ou mean 

 to make sure we are not left behind. I know of no place 

 that requires both ears cocked, both spurs reiidy for action, or 

 your cigar lit merely for luck or " make-believe," like Thorpe 

 Trussels. Hounds swoo^) away from it in a moment from 

 exactly the opposite point you expect, and in that moment you 

 may find yoursflf })enned in, condenmed to follow at a sad and 

 maledictory distance. So pray nip out of the road as (quickly 

 as you can, imagine yourself called upon to clap Tom Firr on 



