1879—80.] SCRAPTOFT AND BARKBY. 313 



ratlier than be checked by another gate. In the same way they 

 slipped over the timber and little brook at the bottom, rose the 

 hill and its dividing qnickset in their stride ; and still it Avas a 

 matter of galloping a stern chase. Lovely grass the whole of 

 it, small enclosures drained as they should be, and fences made 

 up with due regard to a hunter's fair powers. The pack had 

 now set their heads for Barkby Holt (Barkby gives its name to 

 a wider sphere and to more scattered points than any three 

 ordinary lordships) ; and keeping on one side of a boimdarv- 

 liedge nearly all the way — while FiiT and Captain Middleton 

 rode the other side and took the cross fences in a line with them 

 — they strained to the head as if running in view. Three 

 fields from Barkby Holt the leading company consisted of the 

 above, together with Captain Ashton, Messrs. Adair, Hill 

 Trevor, L. Flower, Captain Candy, Lord Grey de AVilton, Sir 

 Beaumont Dixie, H. Flower, Captain "Wallace, and some few 

 others. Lady Florence Dixie and Mrs. Gerald Paget were 

 also riding up throughout the run — which went on, without 

 slackening a moment, through the Holt and out beyond. 

 Beeby Village was left on the right as, with gasping horses, the 

 small field rolled through the fences, and prayed that their 

 sinking fox might soon be to hand. Hounds did it all them- 

 selves Avlien the difticulty of a cold dirty lane came ; quickened 

 up again as the}^ extricated themselves, and carried the chase 

 over another mile of grass. A wide, impossible ravine stopped 

 the way ; one or two of the leaders had already slid down into 

 its depth, and prepared to lead their jaded steeds up the 

 opposite bank — when the Quorn ladies bayed forth the signal 

 that the end had come. Their fox was to ground in a rabbit- 

 hole. He had run ffty -tiro viinutcs before them, and, by map- 

 measurement, over some eight miles of country in the time. 

 For their reward, and as a counter to local i)oultry-claims, he 

 was doomed — and dug. AVith the single excej^tion of the 

 abstract virtue, point, this fine gallop had ever}' good qualit}' — 

 pace, distance, country, and company ; and the run was alto- 



