1877—78.] A RELEASE. 223 



again, over country as good as before, their fox ever close in 

 front, and horses more often breaking than clearing their 

 fences. At Kilsby Tunnel it seemed as if he had escaped to 

 ground. Sympathy might, then, possibly have been with the 

 fox. Now it must be full and hearty with the pack and with 

 the huntsman ; for they have taken up the hne once more, and 

 a minute afterwards the death worr}'^ sounds almost on the 

 doorstep of Mr. Cowley's house at Kilsby. A run of credit and 

 of character, a glorious ride and a fox well killed. 'Tis thus 

 at least that we may class it. The time from find to finish 

 was an hour almost to a minute. The hounds did their work 

 quickly, steadily, and prettily, one and all ; and Wheatley is 

 evidently not only a good horseman but a good huntsman. 

 May such a run precede many an annual Rugby Hunt Ball ; 

 and may you and I, reader, see it, and ride over the water as 

 gaily and successfully as we can on paper. 



I dislike recording accidents, whether to man or his good 

 beast ; but regi'et and sympathy prompt a note of the fact 

 that Mr. Craven's horse broke his back at the Hilmorton 

 brook. 



A BE LEASE. 



On Friday, January 25th, the country was placed under 

 lock and key. Snow had fallen to the depth of an inch or so ; 

 and with Saturday hope and company alike faded away. In 

 many cases there must have been just a little touch of relief in 

 the sigh, with which a battered stud was left in the hands of 

 the groom and the vet, while the noble owner fled away to 

 oblivion of blows and sprains and crippled favourites. For 

 grooms were here and there at their wits' end (however deep 

 that terminus might be, in own or master's judgment) ; vets 

 were growing rich ; and even noble lords were now and again 

 to be seen following the chase oft wheels. For the strain has 



