378 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season' 



seeing them till you felt the check fore or aft. You were lucky 

 if your stride happened right, and you escaped the purler that 

 stopi^ed Mr. AV. Martin's forward career. A cluster of open 

 drains (opjiosite Ashbv Pastures), where so many foxes have 

 gone to ground, Avas another chance that both fox and pursuit 

 galloi^ed right over without hindrance. Eighteen minutes now 

 and one welcome gasp, while Mr. lieaumont is oli' his horse at 

 a locked gate into the lane 'twixt Ashby Village and Pastures. 

 Only a low stile out ; but we are no longer in a position to 

 take liberties. That it is stiff and greas}' is but too obvious ; 

 and it is only under stern compulsion that Fin-'s lead is ac- 

 cepted — while one who seeks a weaker and blinder place conies 

 through with a clatter that might be heard at tlie Coplow. The 

 pack are still a long half-field in front, over fine-scenting, wide- 

 spreading, grass country — the little following now narrowed to 

 huntsman, ^Master, and tlu-ee or four others. Soon Mr. Coup- 

 land's weak knee fails liim at a fence ; and a nasty roll and a 

 jarred joint are tlic result. Then, with most of the jumping 

 power gone, the huntsman rattles the strong low timber in a 

 high bullfinch. 'Sir. IJeaumont and Mr. l^irker each hit it 

 hard; while Mr. AVatts and ^Ir. Cradock find a weak place in 

 the hedge alongside, and brush through it in such fashion as 

 panting horses can achieve. Thus struggling on, they reach 

 the grassy gully opposite Thorpe Trussels, leave the covert one 

 field to the left, and come up to hounds as the latter cross the 

 new railwa}^ by a bridge. Mr. A. Paget is standing in the field 

 by his house (Thorpe Satchville Hall), when the pack appear 

 over the railway, and hover for a moment all round him 

 "Have you seen him, sir?" "No." " How long have you 

 been here?" "Only a minute" — a comforting assurance; 

 Peynard may still be forrard. In a second they are j^ushing 

 on again ; and strike the road into the village twenty-eight 

 minutes from the start — twenty-eight minutes as sharp and 

 severe and sweet as heart of sportsman could desire. The 

 drizzling rain is thickening and the sky is blackening. Our 

 fox has run a lane for some hundred yards ; and the scent is 



