276 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE, [Season 



formed on one's horse's head) through the Wold Wood. I 

 remember two narrow fields of plough (the same we met at 

 starting in our last gallop from the wood), and I know well 

 the two blind fences that hedge them. After these, the scene 

 opens out upon wide acres of grass, good fair fences coming 

 quick and big — fifty men on honourable terms with hounds, and 

 the pack holding their own, with a head half a field broad. A 

 lovely sight and a stirring scene, as they swept down to Hoby 

 — all grass, all galloping, room for everyone, the pace mag- 

 nificent, and the best bit of coimtry in the Hunt. No one 

 was foremost. But most of the good men were there — Firr, of 

 course, close in the wake of his hounds ; and almost equally of 

 course Mr. Coupland beside him — Messrs., captains, and 

 esquires all going as quick as men couldride — Leatham, Brockle- 

 hurst, Beaumont, Ashton, Adair, Lubbock, Cart, Robertson, 

 and forty others almost abreast — with half a dozen ladies among 

 the number. I can hardly tell you how they reached Hoby — 

 so quick, confusing, and exciting was the trip. But the scurry 

 over the grass met no check for fifteen to eighteen minutes — 

 and then there came hunting, with a burst fox in front : and of 

 com'se they killed him. They hunted him, a horseshoe line, 

 by Thrussington, round northwards to Segrave ; com'sed hun 

 out of a farmyard with his back up and his brush droopmg, 

 and worried him under some faggots hard by — fifty-three 

 minutes and a true good hunt from find to finish. That first 

 burst was heavenly : the rest was better than the worse half of 

 one's life. 



THE PUNCHBOWL RUN. 



All else of the week, all else of the year, pales before the 

 run of Saturday. My pen may have rusted in the frost ; my 

 right hand have grown stale with repetition of subject. But I 

 must put this before you if I can. I must be pardoned a free 

 use of names ; and I must crave forgiveness for all error of 



