376 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Seasox 



The meet had again been Gaddesby : and the earlier part of 

 the morning had been sjient in following up the same fox that, a 

 month before, had given us a first flutter across the country — 

 from Mr. Cheney's new covert to Aslib}' Pastures. This time 

 there was a split in the pack soon after starting ; the edge was 

 taken off the scent ; and it was a half-hour's hunt instead of a 

 twenty minutes' gallop. 



Thus, somewhere about midda}-, the Hunt was back at what 

 is known as Gaddesby Spinne}", proper. As its name implies, 

 this is a covert of only a few acres. lUit it is closel}' planted 

 with privet, and carefull}' kept and tended withal. The place 

 of fJl others from which to insure a burst — the certainty has 

 never failed for the last year or two, since the spinney has 

 grown to maturity. 



Firr himself viewed Reynard away (no matter now whether 

 cub or old customer). Thus the ladies all bustled out of 

 covert almost before their fox was over the first field, with his 

 head to Eearsby — and lialf the certainty was assured in a close 

 quick start. Three choldng bits of fresh-turned plough to 

 commence with — then never a 3'ard of dirty ground till the 

 chase was ended. Horses could only trot through this ; but 

 hounds, too, were held back by its cold sticky surface. Once 

 clear of it, they swept down towards the little boundary stream 

 that runs between the parishes of Brooksby and Gaddesby — 

 and their fox took the opportunity to swing to the rightabout 

 and make his point, in exactly the opposite direction to that 

 forced upon him at starting. Now he stuck his head for 

 Burrough on the Hill nearly' in the teeth of the wind, left all 

 the Quorn coverts on his left, and — once settled to his line — 

 never bent his neck till he reached his goal. Along the brook- 

 side above mentioned Mr. Pennington and the huntsman rode 

 close to the now flying pack — httle meadows and nice fences 

 to be taken at galloping speed — and the same sort of riding 

 (if you clung to the right of the little stream) all through the 

 first hot and hurried ten minutes. 'T would be impossible to 

 have crammed more necessar}' jumping and better pace into 



