406 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Seasoh 



to stimulate the remainder of the stubborn beasts, still plunging 

 and refusing on the brink ; till at last a shallow spot is dis- 

 covered, a rail broken down — and they slink pitifully through. 

 Over the brow and not a mile away, the pack were castmg 

 about, already at fault — else might they have run to the Cop- 

 low unattended. Now it required the help of the huntsman to 

 carry them round by Quenby to Lowesby. Here they ran up 

 to a tiny spinney, and here, as in the morning, their fox had 

 lain down to wait for them. Up he jumped in their very midst ; 

 took a turn round the little plantation — every hound screaming 

 for his blood — then turned back to charge right through them. 

 Hungry jaws snapped at him right and left; but he dodged and 

 twisted, jumped high in the air over one hound's head, and 

 escaped them all ! For a mile or more he was in view of some of 

 the pack, as he dashed past the place where he was found ; and 

 now went on to do better credit to himself. Leaving Lowesby 

 Hall on his right, he took them at a cheery pace over several 

 wide pastures ; crossed the Tilton and Leicester road close to 

 what is known at Thimble Hall, and dropped over the slope 

 for the village of Twyford. Having descended far enough to 

 round a small farm of arjible that might have stained the 

 character of the line he now proposed, he bore to his left about 

 half a mile from Twyford, and struck out a straight course 

 over what is perhaps the pick of the Quorn comitry — viz., the 

 firm well-drained grass on the side of the valley which holds 

 Ashby Folville and Twyford. With a much improved scent 

 they went excellently along this pretty slope, left Ashby well 

 on the right, and then bore upward for Barsby. Firm and 

 sound as was the galloping on this chosen ground, and light as 

 were the fences, half an hour of such going had begun to tell 

 its tale : and, when Barsby and South Croxton were passed, 

 and the run turned down towards Baggi-ave Spinney, horses 

 were blundering and falling at many simple places. After 

 crossing the Croxton brook at a very amiable point, hounds 

 came to a sudden check in a grass field (about an hour from 

 the first find). Having at length given it up on their own 



