228 "THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season- 



well-nigli (layliglit, treading tlie plank of dissipation at the 

 Leicestershire Hunt Ball. 



The afternoon grew cooler, and it was close upon four o'clock 

 when Colonel Biu-naby's Covert was appealed to. Readily it 

 answered ; and readily did men rush round the deep ridge and 

 furrow which border it, as the horn called them away at the 

 lower end. For a second or two hounds hovered at the brook- 

 side ; and the multitude availed themselves of it to dash into 

 and up the road and anticipate the pack on the opposite bank. 

 Indeed anticipation was the order of the day. Horses' heads 

 were set at their fences Avherever direction appeared defined or 

 even probable. In many instances it happened that hounds 

 liad eventually to be brought back actually behind sinners 

 Avhose consciences can scarcely have been so hardened but that 

 the situation carried its own rebuke. The Master bore his 

 trials with Job-like forbearance; and Firr worked doggedly 

 on, apparently unruffled by the difficulties that beset him. 

 licading and conducing more than all else to this mischief, 

 there is a small and happily select corps in the hunting field, 

 often mentioned and bibliothised by name, who, in their 

 laudable passion for giving each other a lead, consider hounds 

 are altogether apart from the question, and circle freely round 

 them whenever they dwell long enough for the opportmiity. 

 The following is a fair and veritable instance of the doings of 

 the class. X. was an even-tempered, long-suliering, but now 

 exasperated official, who for an hour had worked his hounds 

 through the overwhelming crowd in spite of all difficulties. A. 

 was a prominent member of the above corps, but had just 

 brought his evil career to a close in a blind ditch. B., how- 

 ever, was present in all his iniquity, and just preparing to set 

 his horse at a fence, up to which one hound was feeUng his 

 way. X., a "Wellington in such an emergency, at once pointed 

 to the right, Avhere a new double oxer lay wide and frowning, 

 and remarked, "If Mr. A. were here, Jie'd soon have a cut at it." 

 The words were no sooner out of his mouth than round went 

 B. in full charge, measured his length into a field from which 



