184 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Seasox 



chance with the leader, and ride down the liekl after the Litter 

 to the Dalby Plantations. True enough, there is a wire 

 blocking most of the fence ; but there is one loophole left (as 

 there generally is in a difficulty, if hounds are running only 

 fast enough). It's not altogether nice, but it must be done. 

 The blackthorn binders are very low, though stout ; there is 

 three feet of room beyond, and the little brook is only about 

 six feet broad, with a rising bank above. A very pigmy 

 obstacle indeed in Ireland ; but Leicestershire horses generally 

 make a scramble of it when asked to double, and so there is a 

 scramble, though a successful one now. Open this gate quick, 

 and take the grass up to the Punchbowl, or you may be left 

 stranded in the plough ! See, Neal's horse is completely 

 stopped by the pumping ascent, and is useless for further pro- 

 ceedings ; Goddard has vanished, and the fun isn't over j'et. 

 The hounds merely run the rim of the Punchbowl, barely touch 

 the covert, and are awny again over the meadow at the top, the 

 leading couples starting on as gaily as ever, though there is sad 

 tailing behind them. Not a moment to get breath. You must 

 plunge down over Burrough Hill, and steer now for Burdett's 

 Covert in the hollow below. Don't jump over any of the 

 stragglers, but cheer them on if tlicy will listen to j'ou. There 

 is no official present, and the quartet last-mentioned have been 

 joined only by Lady Florence Dixie. The latter has been 

 sending along the little steeplechaser Sunbeam with a vigour 

 that has distanced all who started Avitli her ; and the mare, 

 served by blood and light weight, is fresh enough to do all that 

 will be required of her. You leave Burdett's Covert just to 

 your right, passing it at the best place you can muster. Surel}' 

 this fox must die soon ; for on Burrough Hill a rustic tried to 

 point him out as just before the hounds ! Still they run over 

 the hill for Thorpe Trussels, taking the line into the very teeth 

 of an old hedge-cutter. Of course he has headed hun ; and, of 

 course, a check ensues. It is the first one though, and we 

 have been galloping for tltirty minutes without a second's 

 stoppage. *' He ran the hedge soide " is the information ; but 



