I 884. 25 



of the day. The fox was read}', too, for he soon 

 found himself in one of the little covers close by, 

 and we set off at score, down towards the river, 

 Avhich he and the hounds swam over, leaving an 

 anxious and evicted field to gallop round to 

 Bagber Bridge, some crossing the ford close by 

 in rather deep water, up the road to Lydlinch, 

 and in by Ralph's Farm on the right ; and after 

 a short ring round, hounds never taking their 

 noses off the line, they ran into him in a 

 hedgerow at the end of fifteen minutes. Having 

 duly despatched him, and Mr. Guest breaking up 

 the fox himself, as Orbell, though out, was not 

 able to make much use of his hand, we trotted 

 back and drew Holtham, finding close by, in 

 Sturts, and we had a slow^ run thence to 

 Thornhill, where we lost. Found again in 

 Stalbridge Common Plantation, but there was 

 absolutely no scent — our morning run having 

 been due, I fancy, to the hounds being so 

 close to their fox — and after a slow, patient 

 hunt we marked him to ground near Stourton 

 Caundle, dug, and ate him. Another fox trotted 

 from the same earth, and we had difficulty in 



