182 THE CEEAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



others, you had best push your hat well clown, and settle to 

 your work that moment — for in a twinkling the pack is half a 

 field away. You are luck}' enough if you arrive on the spot as 

 hounds are nearing the second fence — Mr. Samuda skimming 

 the first post-and-rails, with Xeal in close attendance, while 

 Colonel Goshng is leading the stronger detachment by the hne 

 of gates some two hundred yards to the left. The tui'f is soft 

 and holding alongside the belt of trees that runs from the wood 

 to Ranksboro' Gorse (a mile and a half away), and which 

 hounds are skirting at a truly awful pace ; but you viust push 

 and gallop if 3'ou would live with them at all. You had better 

 have kept with the division on the left ; for the third fence is 

 timber, up-hill, and with a slipi^ery ditch in front, that turns 

 over Down's young one with a double summersault ; the only 

 feasible place is blocked ; and, after all, you must scurry awa}' 

 to the gate as best you can. It looks a thousand to one that 

 our fox is bent upon Eanksboro', and accordingly, as they near 

 its bridle-gate entrance, Mr. Sanmda and several others turn 

 in, and, I am sorry to add, lose tlie run in consequence. 

 Eising the crest of the hill, hounds suddenly bear away to the 

 left of the gorse ; you are still nearly a field behind them, and 

 this field and the next are studded with large anthills as thickly 

 as a clodho]Dper's boot with nails. 'Tis trying ground on 

 which to gallop fast, but you have often seen three hundred 

 men gallop over it before ; and can you ever remember a j^eck 

 or a stumble ? So ^-ou lay your reins on his withers, put your 

 trust in the good angel that has kept 3'our neck straight on 

 your shoulders for so long, and strain after the hounds. 

 *' Forrard on ! " It's plough now, and yet they can run ! 

 Blessed augury ! We're in for a " ripper." You feel it in the 

 jump of your heart, that sends the blood glowing to your 

 cheeks ; you know it in the thrill with which the hound-music 

 strikes upon your ear ; and you swear that here, at least, is 

 pleasure such as a million of consols could not buy. 



You can afford to push over a downhill fallow or two, and 

 now you are on the best of terms with tlie pack and yourself as 



