342 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Se.vsox 



knowing ones, however — whose movements it is alwaj's desirable 

 to watch, if one's own ears or craftiness fail — were at once on 

 the alert, and shnffled quietl}' down the immetalled bnt well- 

 mudded ride towards Oakham. By the time they reached the 

 handgate a holloa ample and shrill set them oft" round the 

 wood to its liraunston side. Half the pack were alread}^ out of 

 covert, gliding down the slope beyond ; and horn and cheer 

 soon brought the others on. But, after the first few fields of 

 shaip and i^retty going, the least exciting part of the run was 

 its course to Owston "Wood (a turn short of Prior's Coppice 

 and by Chiselton Spinney). The grass was sound, and the 

 fences clean ; but liounds did not settle down to run with 

 vigour. In fact, it was palpable that in more than one instance 

 the stupid beasts did not get out of the way nearly quick enough 

 for ambitious riding. AVe have learned, by the way, that a 

 prophet has to come abroad for honour — thougli be it noted in 

 all goodwill, that if some men find honour thrust upon them, 

 tlirusting on a strange pack is better honoured in the breach 

 than the observance. 



Hounds hunted tlieir way tlie length of the liittle Owston 

 AVood, emerged at the bisecting road, and never touched a 

 covert again. On the other hand, they ran really hard for an 

 liour and fortj/ viiiintcs, with scarcely a moment's check, over 

 some of tlie most beautiful grass country in Leicestershire and 

 Butland, and killed their fox. ^Melted snow and recent rain 

 had left the ground wet and splashy rather than deep and 

 stick}"^ ; and, somehow or other, horses were able to go pushing 

 on, in many cases, to the end. Or as they tailed off, of course 

 they left no mark behind them ; and with the limit of one's own 

 tether, one dropped into obscurity as tlie others, like spray 

 from a jet of Avater. Surely a single fox could onl}' have lived 

 so long before hounds on tlie i>lea that he was not burst at 

 starting, but had leism^e to travel well ahead before the j^ace 

 became oppressive. The ran was something of a ring, no 

 doubt. But a ring that takes an hour and forty minutes' 

 galloinng must embrace more than a fan- extent of ground — 



