196 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



probably out of his country, he escaped some miles 

 farther on near Knossington. We may be sure that 

 there was want of neither skill nor pace on the part 

 of his pursuers. 



Even supposing that one of the short running 

 foxes, which are so common, is before hounds, yet 

 foxes are plentiful, and hounds may change and 

 run harder than ever with the fresh scent. An ex- 

 ample of this may be taken from a run which took 

 place last season (1901-2) and which was, I think, 

 the straightest fox-hunt I have ever known. Hounds 

 were scarcely thirty or forty yards out of the direct 

 line all the eleven miles from Mr. W. W. Tailby's 

 covert at Slawston to Botany Bay. In this case two, 

 perhaps three, foxes in succession were in front of 

 hounds, and none but the foremost riders could have 

 had a chance to steady their horses from start to 

 finish. Hounds hesitated, they did not check, at 

 Noseley coverts, so there was no time for a slow starter 

 to ease his horse. 



Therefore, once with hounds, it is wise to take 

 every chance. If hounds lean — and runs so straight 

 as the last mentioned are very unusual — to the one 

 hand or to the other, be ready to bend with them. 

 If they are turning towards you, it is worth while to 

 diverge a couple of hundred yards or so from the 

 direct course to a gate, if you can arrive there before 

 the crowd. Every man in Leicestershire should 

 be able to open a gate. They are well hung and easy 

 as a rule ; and if you do not know how to manage 

 them, it certainly will not be for want of practice. 

 All over Leicestershire the cross roads are gated, 

 and you can hardly ride to covert without opening 

 half-a-dozen. But to return to the subject of a 

 quick start. The only way is to keep touch with 



