180 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Skason 



covert as tlie dead fox was held up to view. For the others, 

 they dispersed in silence and in sorrow. 



But the good proprietor had another with plentj' of life in 

 him, close at hand, for one was quickly stiiTed up in the osiers 

 adjoining the railwaj'. Taking up his path alongside the railway 

 line, at a moment when the field were just passing over the 

 crossing, our fox gave a perfect instance of how directly op- 

 posed to each other are the services of steam and sport ; for, 

 taking a sharp turn back, he left all but some half dozen men 

 as fairly shut out from the chase as if they had been beyond 

 the Channel. Hounds went like pigeons across the park, but 

 the hunt lasted only half a mile bej'ond, and thus there closed 

 an inferior dav. 



THE TWO GIIEAT HUNS OF THE SEASON WITH 

 THE COTTESMORE. 



FROM ORTON PARK WOOD. 



Januaky Cth, 1877. 



The dulness of a non-hunting da}' exists not for the man 

 whose task it is to bring back such a run as that of the 

 Cottesmore on Tuesday last. The pleasure of calling up its 

 details and incidents is in itself an excitement to him who 

 writes, even if he is unequal to rousing sjonpathy or enthusiasm 

 in the breast of those who read. 



No time or need for preface. Material, enough and to spare, 

 is at hand, if my good genius will but enable me to grasp and 

 hold it up before you. 



A sunshiny morning, with the wind in the north, and a bite 

 of frost in the air. Knossington the meet — and of course the 

 Avhole of hunting and riding Leicestershii'e gathered at Mr. 

 Duncan's hospitable Hall. 'Twould make a roll-call almost 

 as long as that of a regiment to enumerate such a field by 

 name — all Melton, all Harboro', all the Cottesmore men, and 

 all of the Quornites and Tailbyites living within reach. Half 



