22 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



In every run there will be the first and second flight 

 men and women who are riding the line, the rearguard 

 scattered behind and the flanking divisions on the 

 right and on the left who are skirting for gates and 

 gaps, and hoping for a turn in their favour. When 

 the turn comes, one half of them will necessarily be 

 left behind. About one o'clock many who perchance 

 have been going well will drop off, and by half-past 

 two or three the remnant of the field left will be of a 

 manageable size. 



In some of the grass countries the crowd is more 

 easily absorbed than in others. In the Quorn, for 

 example, there is room to ride abreast, while in the 

 Cottesmore the steep hills and the holding scent will 

 scatter the throng. In the Pytchley, on the other 

 hand, owing to the nature of the country, the crowd 

 is always more in evidence. But even in Leicester- 

 shire or Northamptonshire it is not obligatory to hunt 

 in a crowd. It is only on fashionable days, such as 

 the Cottesmore Tuesday, the Pytchley Wednesday, or 

 the Quorn Friday, that the masses are so overwhelming, 

 and of these days the Pytchley Wednesday is perhaps 

 the worst because it is for so many the only accessible 

 hunt on that day. Melton, indeed, can hunt with the 

 Belvoir ; but Market Harborough, Rugby, and Lei- 

 cester, not to speak of all the villages round about, must 

 either hunt with the Pytchley or stay at home. It is 

 true that these days are in the very best country, but 

 still if you avoid them your average of sport during 

 the season may be on the whole as good if not better 

 than if you went out and did not do well. 



If you would see the fashionable countries on their 

 best days under the most favourable aspects, then the 

 wisest plan is to keep the best horse for the afternoon, 

 and make a long day. In the evening during the 



