300 THE LEEAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



Avere disabled and shot, neither fate befell anj' of the riders. 

 Twenty minutes or so over the Barkby-and-Scraptoft country 

 is always a treat. And it was to-day, in spite of a choking 

 atmosphere and a broiling sun. Grass and good fences, and 

 the Quorn ladies running fast — is not this Avhat we dream of 

 in winters abroad, in summers at home ? And the same, at 

 further length, marked the afternoon. The fox of the morning 

 got to ground. Then there was an adjournment to Scraptoft ; 

 and from the Holt came the run. It began inider the diffi- 

 culties of a divided pack, and only established itself in earnest 

 when Hungerton Foxholes was reached. By this time Firr 

 had got his hounds together; and catching a view as his 

 loitering fox again broke covert, clapped them on to his brush, 

 and drove him straight across the country nearl}^ to Brooksby 

 — a good six-mile point. The line passed between Barkb}- 

 Holt and Baggrave ; and went on by Queniboro' Spinney to 

 Gaddesby, beyond which a change of foxes came to spoil the 

 fuiish. The pace throughout was fair, never very fast : but it 

 Avas a right good hunting run. There was the best of ground 

 for those to disport themselves who liked to ride the line of 

 hounds. There were bridle roads and gateways for all who 

 l)referred a more sober course, and j'et would take part in 

 the run. 



I never saw men hotter than the}' were this Frida}'. I have 

 seldom seen as many fagged faces as on Saturday (November 

 8th). Many of our good sportsmen abjure the saddle heartily 

 from April to November. Some of them have done no harder 

 work, meantime, than is involved in lying full length on a 

 snow}^ deck, to read a novel and await the arrival of another 

 appetite. These come down, perhaps, to Kirby, and straight- 

 Ava}^ launch forth into hunting six days a Aveek, that, forsooth, 

 they may enjoy themselves. Small Avonder, then (especiall}- if 

 Ave consider the hot mornings and the chilly evenings frequent 

 of late) that toAvards the end of a Aveek, backs have been bent 

 in an agony of stiffness, saddles have been as hot iron, and 



