A January Frost 



It is nearly noon before a start is made, for 

 Mr Cropley is all hospitality, and the home- 

 made cherry brandy or sloe gin has to be 

 sampled before Jim throws the fifty-five and a 

 half couple into Oatlands Wood, for, like 

 William the Fourth with his horses in the Good- 

 wood Cup, he is " starting the whole fleet." 



Orders are given that on no account are 

 hounds to be allowed to go away, and as the 

 wood is a big one and the undergrowth is 

 thick, there is plenty of opportunity for a good 

 woodland hunt. The first foxes that go away 

 are allowed to do so without hindrance and the 

 game is soon in full swing. What a crash of 

 melody as the whole fifty-five and a half couple 

 open on the line of a fox! 



" So joyous the music each note was a song," 



and as we struggle along the rides as best we 

 may, there is plenty to occupy our attention. 

 Several foxes have gone away, but there are 

 plenty left in the big wood, and for two or 

 three hours hounds change from one to another 

 till at last they run into one at the corner of 

 the wood. 



113 H 



