JOHN ^^'H^DBORXE 187 



Jesson to Femworthy and over Middleton Hill, over- 

 looking Chagford, pointing for Gidleigh. Here the 

 first check occurred, the fox having been met at the 

 entrance to a farmyard by the farmer's wife, who, 

 exclaiming, " Here's a young fox ! " set the sheep- 

 dog at him. A holloa a few fields ahead set matters 

 right for the moment, but the sheepdog had done the 

 customary mischief, and though hounds stuck well 

 to the line as far as the hamlet of Thorn, the fox's 

 life was saved by the over-eagemess of the coimtry 

 people there, who caused confusion by holloaing in 

 different places at the same time. "Whitmore's horse 

 was " done," as were also those of his eight or ten 

 companions, and in addition had lost a shoe. The 

 point was said to be about fifteen miles and the time 

 about two hours and a half up to the moment of 

 giving up. Miss ^Mlidborne, on Silvertail, and Mrs. 

 Splatt saw this gallant run from find to finish. 



The pack undoubtedly changed foxes on Hamil- 

 down, and it was the opinion of many that Mr. Bragg 

 killed Mr. AMiidborne's fox and that Mr. "\Miidborne's 

 hounds went on with ]\Ir. Bragg's fox which was 

 fresher. 



Shinner's Bridge fixtures provided two or three 

 good runs in this season. One was a two-hours' hunt 

 from Penny's Grove to Berry, the first hour being 

 very good. Another fox was found in Berry the same 

 day and killed after an hour's run. Another day, 

 after meeting at Shinner's Bridge, a fine run resulted 

 with a fox from North Wood. He first went down by 

 the river Dart to within about a mile of Totnes, then 

 turned back and crossed the road at Shinner's Bridge. 

 He then made for Hood Copse, through which he 

 passed, and ran the road under Velwell House and 

 never left it until within a few fields of Luscombe 



