268 



THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 



[Season 



emerge over a very plausible ditcli-and-rail. Aiid a dozen 

 sportsmen at once proceeded to avail themselves of the route. 

 But once inside they became huddled together, terril)ly in each 

 other's way. One of the most dressy of them drojiped his hat 

 exactly in the gangway, and implored piteously that it might 

 not be trodden on. "It was quite new, and the onh' one he 

 had ! " Courtesy and frllow-feeling could not withstand the 

 appeal ; a deadlock ensued ; and I verily believe we should all 

 have been there now, had not a graceless (I use the word only 

 in reference to his unfraternal behaviour) younger brother 

 seized delightedl}' upon the chance, to ride straight at the hat 

 and drive it, a silken ruin, into tlie bottom of the ditch — 

 pursuing his way witli a heartless chuckle. The spell was 

 broken ; the beaver-dam was burst ; and tlic flood of horsemen 

 poured through, to ride for Gaddesby. A frost-bound road 

 held them to a hand canter ; a sharp turn took hounds suddenly 

 away from them ; and for a quarter of an hour the pack had 

 quite the best of tlicm — daringly though the}- clattered over the 

 intervening fences and hard-glazed ridge- and-fm-row in pursuit. 

 Thus they were led between Gaddesby and Brooksby till scent 

 failed near Cream Gorse. 



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