358 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



SNOW SKIRMISHING. 



The Quom do not often commit themselves to the eccentricity 

 of hunting in the snow ; but they could scarcely help it, or have 

 regretted it, on Friday, February 25. Snow had been on the 

 ground all the week, protecting the soil from the slight frosts 

 which nightly hardened the roads, to be softened again by each 

 day's sun. Thus, bej'ond a crisp white covering, the turf rode 

 pretty much as usual, the ditches were clear, and the roads could 

 do no harm to hounds' feet, when once the sun had shown itself. 

 Men had flocked into Gaddesby from all quarters, declaring 

 they had cantered across the fields in perfect comfort. Many 

 had even come in the full assurance of pink and leathers. 

 Hounds were there to time ; the Master had slept on the spot, 

 and was nothing loth ; and, accordingly, to the delight of both 

 staff and outsiders, the order was given for Ashby Pastures 

 shortly before midday. Horses kicked the snowballs gaily 

 from their feet as they frisked across the sward from the Hall ; 

 and it was obvious that in going fast the peril lay rather in the 

 missiles of your friends than in any difficulty of yom' horse to 

 keep his feet. 



That fox in Ashb}'^ Pastures must have been looking out of 

 the gate, so ready was he for the coming of hounds, and so 

 instantly did they hail his presence. He should have been 

 a good one ; but his was only a homely mind. He shuffled 

 out of their way at the moment, rather than lose the" number 

 of his berth, as the sailors jiut it. But to huny across to 

 Thorpe Trussels was his first idea. To get back again was his 

 second. 



The afternoon, however, set things going to a much better 

 tune. From one of the Gaddesby plantations (that abutting on 

 the Queniboro' Spinney) a brisk fox was off like a bolt, over 

 the road, and through the covert beyond — pointing for South 

 Croxton just long enough, possibly, to delude you away from 

 the bridge that bears honour to Her Ladyship of Stamford. 



