338 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



is caught in this position — with his mouth so full of hejelliecl 

 mutton pie that he cannot even call out for his horse — the 

 bravery of his bearing is not unlikely to be lowered for the day. 

 This is no fancy portrait, nor even a rare instance. "SVere 

 there not at least fifty fair sportsmen caught posing thus when 

 the Belvoir set off to run from Wood well Head last Ash 

 Wednesday? And were there not as many more thus left 

 sorrowful to-day at Scraptoft ? 



The site of the late gorse is this season onl}' marked by a 

 few brambles and the young shoots of the burnt whin. There 

 is nothing to stop a iox there a moment : and they never dwell 

 long in the Holt alongside. They found in the latter ten-acre 

 brake before half the field were within sight or sound ; and 

 then most of those present galloped round the southernmost 

 end of tlie wood instead of striking through towards the gorse. 

 Hounds left covert with their fox almost in view; went like 

 lightning across the two grass fields to Scraptoft Hall, and 

 crossed the road short of the shrubberies. The whip was 

 there to 02)en the gate and cheer them over ; and then, with 

 their fox frequently to be seen not half a field before them, 

 ^ they ran as hard as they could stretch over the neat nice 

 country in the dii-ection of Barkby Holt. Their onl)^ imme- 

 diate attendants were Capts. Smith and Middleton, Messrs. 

 Harter and Baldock, and a lady on a brown mare. The fences 

 came quick and often strong ; but they Avere all to be ridden at 

 n gallop — and, in fact, were best suited by the pace. The 

 course thus run was not a very long one — being only to the 

 Keyham-and-Beeby Road, and back on the nearer side to 

 "Keyliam Village. Something between fifteen and twenty 

 minutes probably covered this part of the gallop ; but it was as 

 warm and quick a burst as need be, for the fortunate few. In 

 spite of the rime still whitening the surface, the grass was every- 

 where sound and firm ; and no real difiicult}' crossed their path 

 from the time they started till the}' met tlie less lucky majorit}' 

 on the way to the village. Their fox wasalread}' nearh- blown, 

 xmd now doubled back almost among the field. Being hunted 



