284 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIKE. [Season 



came freely and frequently, it had little effect on the survivors. 

 I never think it my part to chi'onicle accidents — but, whether 

 from the depth of the ground, from frost-fattened horses, or 

 from both, falls have been very numerous and not always 

 harmless. 



The Quorn set no light value on their ran of Friday last 

 (February 22nd). Of late it has been more or less a reproach 

 on the Quorn foxes that they have run short and turned too 

 quickly. The smallness of their coverts and the length of the 

 late frost might fairly have led to results justifying such an 

 accusation. But no stone of this kind could be cast at them 

 to-day ; for in an hour and thirU)-five\minutes hounds were taken 

 over fully thirteen miles of country, while a bee line from the 

 point of find to that of finish could not be less than eight. 



IVIr. Coupland gave the world till 11.30 to reach Great 

 Dalby ; but even this was scarcely indulgence enough for such 

 as would dance by night and hunt by day. The Masons of 

 Leicestershire held their ball at Melton on Thursday night. 

 To belong to the brotherhood of the hunting-field was held to 

 be quite sufficient title to a share in the freemasonry of the 

 evening; Melton and its neighbourhood trooi^ed in, and, in 

 white apron or pink coat, made merry till morning. Following 

 this up, it was believed, in some quarters, that the meet would 

 be postponed till twelve o'clock — in spite of advertisement as 

 usual. And those who were fortunate enough to act upon the 

 impression, lost their sport. 



The moment Firr spoke in Gartree Hill hounds opened too, 

 and immediately the thick thorn covert was alive with foxes. 

 Backwards and forwards they boimded over the broad rides. 

 One and two slipped away. Then one with ragged fur was 

 seen; and to " Idll the mangey one" became the object. 

 Again and again he was hemmed into a corner ; but if he had 

 the misfortune to be bald, he was certainly no invalid, for with 

 astonishing activity he darted each time through the midst of 

 the ravening pack. At last, after a moment's silence, came the 

 signal of the fox gone — in all probabiHty our hau-less friend — 



