2G2 THE CEEAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Seasox 



a second wide deep bottom — its fence impenetrable and bigh 

 wbere bounds crossed, and no apparent possible opening. 

 Bearing rigbt and left, tlie leaders went for its first practicable 

 points, and gladly found themselves be3'ond. Hounds were 

 "well ahead flj'ing on the fresh hot scent ; and the gi'ound was 

 fetlock deep. But on the big j^astures of Thorpe Arnold the 

 pack had no longer the best of it : and once again the three 

 were with them on terms satisfiictorj'. 



Their fox was yielding to the killing pace, and now he bore 

 up towards the spot from which he had started. A half-laid 

 wire took a moment's thought and search : and soon they 

 entered a turnip-field, with hounds in full drive. The wet 

 mud must have hung, and smothered the scent. The leading 

 hounds threw up their heads when carrying a straight con- 

 tinuous line : wavered and stood for a second or two, as if the 

 tremendous pace had told also upon them. And this, if I may 

 be permitted to hazard the opinion, explains the check. The 

 leading hounds were hloini. For, though the track lay onwards, 

 they would not stoop for it at once. As a holloa sounded 

 forward, it was proposed that one of the party should carrv 

 them to it ; but this was not acted upon. Gillard soon came 

 up, hit the scent just forward of wdiere they had abandoned it, 

 and the party increased its strength by a score. Eighteen 

 minutes it had been to the check, w'hen their fox was only just 

 out of view. Running on almost as fast, they made it twenty- 

 seven — when, with their fox so beat that he crawled into a 

 hedgerow, among the horsemen and not a hundred yards 

 before hounds, a fresh one jumped up in front, took them 

 three fields on, and spoiled a fine finish. Of the run fox I 

 have only to add that he gained Melton Spinney (though when 

 last viewed he might have been caught b}' a man on foot), 

 recovered his Avind, and, favoured by the inferior scent of the 

 afternoon, still wears his brush. 



Monday, Nov. 25tli. — The Quorn at Lodge-on-the-Wolds. 

 The term AVold I have only learned to define as betokening 

 inferior land and an infamous hunting country — perhaps a 



