314 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHTEE. [Season 



gether due to hounds, who only asked for a fair fiehl, and the 

 truest of handling — to he let alone. It is this st^'le of treatment 

 that (with no Irish blood in his veins) the Quorn huntsman 

 specially knows how and when to adopt. 



ASH. WEDNESDAY WITH THE BELVOin. 



Asii AVednesday (ilir(i>/s brings a run — to those who are 

 unlioh' enough to seek it with the Belvoir. The}^ who stayed 

 at home are now finding their penance more sore in full dis- 

 coverj'^ of the measure of their abstinence. Full credit, with- 

 out scoffing, be to them and tlieir conscience ! For ourselves, 

 if we have ever been unwilling sinners, when making the hunt- 

 ing-field the scene of this Wednesday's fast, there will be little 

 hanging back in future. In the glorious memory of to-day, we 

 shall leave our sandwiches at home on the anniversar}-, aiid 

 take the saddle without a twinge of conscience or a thought 

 of Avrong. The Belvoir have, again, had a screaming run, a 

 brilliant day, and a grand finish. As customar}', thej' met at 

 Croxtou Park at one o'clock, that no prejudices might be 

 affected, no matin interfered Avith. The sun of j-esterday was 

 hid behind a grey cold sky, the glass had been rising steadily, 

 and there was little or no wind. The influence of rain and 

 sun had worked well upon the frost-rotted ground, making it 

 firmer to ride, and less clinging in Reynard's footmark. Added 

 to all this, there was a bite at one's fingertips and a pinch at 

 one's toes, that ever betokens a scent. A scent, indeed, there 

 was ; as I shall endeavour, in this hasty sketch, to show. Let 

 nie waste no time in needless words. You may know the long 

 bridle-road journey from Croxton Park to Si)roxton Thorns. 

 The lengthened train of horsemen had wound its way to within 

 half a mile of that covert, when a fox jumped up in a stubble 

 beside them and made for the Thorns. As the}' reached it, 

 the long line of horsemen was able to close up, and took the 



