206 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Skasox 



First horses and empt}' sandwich cases had just heen sent 

 home, hounds had just heen thrown into covert, when, more 

 promptly than often happens, even from so small a woodland, 

 Reynard was signalled away at a j^oint where all might have a 

 start. Brightly and quicklj- hounds struck out after him as 

 he set his head at first for the better comitry of Slioby and 

 Lord Aylesford's ; hut after two minutes — much of which 

 seemed spent in the air, for the neatest of flying fences came 

 close and frequent — the course turned at a sharp angle to the 

 left, and carried us into a district whose system of culture we 

 knew too well. So crossing j\Ir. Coupland's own farm, hounds 

 ran on as fast as horses could well move through fallows spe- 

 cially prepared by last night's rain to receive and to hold them. 

 The old Fosse road was cut to the right of Ellars Gorse, and 

 over a few fields of grass the pack left then* followers behind, 

 the lost ground having to be made up where the local stream 

 runs under a thick and forbidding curtain of blackthorn. 

 Willoughby village also remained on the left. Plough still, 

 and plough again, hounds now working their way slowly, now 

 dashing on with a sudden rush, but always mitouched, and 

 always making the most of such a scent as was meted to them. 

 The close of half an hour found them nearing the first of the 

 Widmei-pool Coverts. In twenty minutes more they were at 

 the overhanging plantations near Bunny ; horses now standing 

 still all over the country. Lady Florence Dixie's fell, appa- 

 rently blown, and it is feared her collarbone was broken. ISlrs. 

 Heniy came to more harmless grief, probably from the same 

 cause. Dirty coats and trottmg steeds could scarcely be called 

 exceptional. Kere was one man punishing his horse, who 

 perhaps never needed iDunishment before, at a gap over which 

 he might almost have walked ; there was another hauling at 

 his bridle in the endeavour to raise a fallen steed too blown to 

 struggle to his feet ; and there was a pair of Bartley's tightest, 

 on Sunda}' unwTapped for our special admii*ation from their 

 silver tissue covering, now hobbling ungracefully through the 

 vulgar mire. On the pack pressed theii' sinldng quarry into 



