1879—80.] SCEAPTOFT AND BAEKBY. 311 



was similar — a nice country, a nasty crowd, and fox accounted 

 for — to ground. Then much of the rough element dispersed — 

 not all, for it was vociferous indeed at Scraptoft, though it 

 appeared hut little afterwards. 



But my stor}' hegins only after the raw cold ride to Scraptoft 

 Gorse, whence the second, and the hetter, run of the present 

 season was to date. Hounds were quickly busy, and a fox was 

 quickly out — and in again. Let us pass over how he broke a 

 second time, how his track was jumped on before a hound 

 appeared upon it, or how the huntsman was allowed to blow 

 his horn unhelped, while the pack Hashed back on the heel line. 

 " Hey Caliban ! Oh for a Master ! Oh for a INIan ! ! " (for Mr. 

 Coupland can still only take the saddle, and the reins of 

 government for half a day). Over the Scraptoft lane, through 

 its plantation, and out into the open, the fox had gone — three 

 hounds in his wake. It was a wild beginning to a consummate 

 end. The huntsman, who alone seemed to keep his head, 

 strove his utmost to throw the body of the i)ack forward to the 

 head. Those three hounds might — and ought — to have been 

 stopped at once. Now, with a sharp fling to the right in one 

 pasture, and as sudden a twist to the left in the next, they 

 baffled Firr's efl'ort to cut through his encircling, misinforming, 

 crowd ; and with a tremendous scent Avent forward for Barkby. 

 For a mile or two they defied ajoproach ; and onl}'^ on the 

 farther bank of the Humberstone Brook dwelt long enough for 

 their struggling comrades to reach them. A high post-and- 

 rail stood in mid-stream ; and the huntsman's good bay sur- 

 mounted it with a clatter of wood and iron, and a sjilash of 

 mud and water. Similar success brought his next two followers 

 over. The third performed a feat as startling as I ever saw 

 achieved by horseflesh. AVe of the more timid order, mean- 

 time, had popped over the stream at its narrowest, dismounted 

 to break down the fence beyond, and were now safel}' making 

 our way along the higher ground on the other side. Passing 

 opposite the jump in question, the top rail of the timber was 



