288 THE CKEAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



A Ride on the Railway. — Cro-svii point on Thursday, 

 March 20th, furnished an episode fortunately uncommon. 



The Gunby Gorse fox escaped easily on a weak scent ; but 

 the Pocliin famil}^ knew of another lying handy to supply the 

 loss. So from the neighbourhood of Edmondthoii^e hounds 

 got away, not only in view, but almost on his back, and for 

 some few minutes could not help but race him (Messrs. Jacob- 

 son, Custance, Coupland, and Firr — master and huntsman 

 being on a holiday trip — cutting out the work with Neal). 

 Reaching the Midland railway, he turned to run the water 

 meadows parallel with the line to Saxbj'^ Station. 



Reaching the level crossing between "Wliissendine and Ashwell 

 Stations almost the whole field (in spite of the warning from 

 the woman at the gate-house that the 1.23 train from Melton was 

 overdue) gaily took to the line of rail, to ride nearly two miles 

 to Whissendine Station — as if no such thing as a locomotive 

 were in existence. As they neared the station, they first heard, 

 then saw, the overdue tram speeding to meet them. At the 

 platform, however, it pulled up, that horsemen might get off 

 the embankment. But to pass a pufiing, snorting engine 

 blowing off steam, and the vapour driven by a stiff breeze into 

 the face of one's horse, is easier ordered than done, and a 

 regular panic ensued. Horses plunged and shied, and the 

 signal wires caught some of them as in a trap. In this way 

 Mr. Hassall was thrown down and kicked on the leg — his 

 liorse getting loose. Mr. Younger also was struggling on the 

 groimd to hold his horse. Captain Stirhng's priceless ches- 

 nut " Brilliant Rascal " became quite unmanageable, broke 

 loose, and after rmming some 100 yards down the line, 

 turned back and was charged by the train, but was caught 

 unhurt. Mr. George Finch and his horse rolled together 

 down the embankment without injury to either ; the horse 

 bolted down the line towards Whissendine, and was caught 

 at the level crossing, nearly two miles off — his master follow- 

 ing in the guard's van and mounting his captured steed as 

 soon as the train could come up with it. In the meantime 



