1876—77.] THE TWO C4REAT RUNS OF THE SEASON. 195 



his saddle, the tearful owner is about to trudge his weary wa}'- 

 on foot, when up jumps Asliby with a gasp and a whinn)', 

 apparently as lively as ever. Two fields further on Lord AVol- 

 verton is leading, and soon afterwards standing over, his horse. 

 "Are 3'ou heat?" cries Mr. Whyte-Melville as he struggles 

 onward. '' Yes, George," answers his lordship with wondrous 

 cheerfuhiess ; " you must give me the finish over our claret ! 

 Five hundred, though, I'd give for a horse ! " " Here you are, 

 my lord — fresh as a daisy and can jump anything," promptly 

 responds Mr. Childs of the George Hotel, proffering his twenty 

 pound hii'eling. Lord Manners is also walking round his 

 chesnut in the middle of a field, but the operation seems to 

 possess some potent charm, for soon he is remounted and the 

 horse going again with all his former vigour. Mr. Frewen is 

 now nearest the pack, and shouts loudly as he drops deep into 

 a watering-place beyond a dark high bullfinch. But the 

 Australian (I mean Mr. Hussell) is not to be denied, plunges 

 after him, and the two continue their career in safety. The 

 others shape their course a trifle to the right. Horses are 

 sobbing and choking, and if the fox is not killed soon 'tis 

 certain thej will be. Owston Wood is only two fields away ; 

 but re3^nard is so sore pressed he will never gain it. Turning 

 from it he passes to the right of Ow^ston village, and toils on 

 as if to reach once more the gorse from which he started. But 

 hounds are too close and hot upon him to allow of that. They 

 have been driving him along unmercifully and unhesitatingly for 

 upwards of thirty minutes ; now they are almost on him, when 

 for his last chance he rolls into a ditch, crouches close till the 

 pack have dashed over him, then crawls back under the thorns, 

 and so saves all that exhaustion has left of his life when half a 

 mile from Knossington. Hounds of course throw up bafiled — 

 bristling and eager for blood that was almost in then- mouths. 

 But the brook, the pace, and a fall or two besides have com- 

 pletely worsted the huntsman's horse, though boldly and keenl}^ 

 ridden ; and there is no one to help them to their sinking prey. 

 In vain they throw themselves forward and round, till five 



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