92 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



of the hill to the right of the village. Once here, it 

 is fairiy plain sailing over a hilly rolling country to 

 Sibbertoft and Hothorpe, whence a fox may go by 

 Theddingworth to the Laughton Hills, or swing round 

 by way of Bosworth Hall to Sulby. Sibbertoft is 

 itself a meeting - place which commands a pleasant 

 country and some good coverts. Sulby to Long Hold 

 and Naseby Thorns, and so on to Cottesbrooke or to 

 Scotland Wood or Kelmarsh, and over the road to 

 Arthing worth, whereabouts is no wire nor will be 

 while the present squire has a voice in the matter. 

 There is Foxhall and Faxton Comer, and nearer 

 Harrington, on the way back to Harborough, there is 

 Loatland Wood, a frequent draw. Some pleasant 

 country lies beyond, though there is a brook 

 with a very boggy crossing, where a horse and 

 rider coming after it has been well poached up by 

 the field are likely to stay for the remainder of 

 the afternoon. It is on the whole a pleasant, 

 rather varied, hunting-like country, where foxes are 

 plentiful and are often stout and wild. 



On a Friday or Saturday alternately the sportsman 

 can hunt in a country which is in many respects 

 different from the Thursday district, but none the 

 worse for the change and variety it offers. Probably 

 this side of Harborough is as well known to men 

 from other countries as any, for the town is wont to 

 bid its friends to the United Counties Hunt Ball once 

 a year and to take them out to see Waterloo Gorse 

 or Loatland Wood drawn by the Pytchley the next 

 day. Friday or Saturday will be spent with the 

 Pytchley, and on whichever day you are not summoned 

 to meet that pack Mr. Fernie will offer sport in a 

 corner of his territory that is bounded between the 

 Eye brook and the railway. This is not so highly 



