1879—80.] A PULL FROM THE PUNCHBOWL. 307 



here was (in the opinion of many thorough judges) the 

 heginning of a glorious end. From this point to the foot of 

 Ranksboro' Hill was a deep two miles : and — with hills to 

 climb, and plough and pace to meet — there had been already- 

 labour heavy and incessant. Plorsesin condition were stretch- 

 ing their girths, recent purchases were reduced to a sorry hang- 

 dog trot, when there was a moment's x^uH ftt the Overton Fish- 

 l)ond Spinney under Eanksboro'. Every sign and circumstance 

 pointed to a beaten fox. Half an hour of such severity must 

 have left as killing a mark on him as it had done on horses. 

 And why, unless distressed, should he turn from liisline at the 

 base of a strong holding covert ? So reasoned many other 

 judges — and reasoning thus arrived at a conclusion anything 

 but profitable. At this moment Neal's ear caught a halloa, and 

 his eye, thrown forward to the sound, gave him a glimpse of a 

 fugitive form stealing over the opposite brow. AVitli only a 

 word to his hounds he was through the little handgate of the 

 gully in a moment — the steaming field squeezing their turn 

 through as best they could. Over the sedgey, anthilly pas- 

 tures beyond, most of them rode leism-ely — knowing nothing of 

 this fresh start, and confiding comfortably in the thought that 

 hounds were safely dwelling in Eanksboro' Gorse. They had 

 only to reach the eminence to be very clearly undeceived — 

 Hounds were streaming away below, with a single horseman 

 near them, and half a dozen more only just within hail. Mr. 

 Baird had pierced the well-known Orton Park and llanksboro' 

 belt of trees with the pack, started off with them, and kept 

 nearer to them for the rest of this great gallop than did any- 

 one else. The turf was more than fetlock-deep ; the scent was 

 ravishing ; and horses were already half beat. He could gain 

 nothing on the hounds ; and with such a chance, a clever rider 

 and a stout horse were not likely to be overhauled. He found 

 his way through each bullfinch as it came ; and struck off 

 the Orton-and- Oakham Bottom just where it could be jumped. 

 Capt. Boyce and Mr. Gosling (jjrlmiis) were nearest him as he 

 rose the first hill in the bee-line to Oakham Pasture. The 



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