4 1884. 



Mrs. Plowden, the new residents at W3'ke, made 

 their first appearance, though, as j^et, only on 

 foot. Rin grove and Sandle}^ Covers were 

 drawni blank ; but we found an old fox in some 

 turnips close b}', which led us to Langham, 

 back towards Stock Hill ; b}^ Ringrove and the 

 Tunnel Plantation, where a check occurred ; 

 but a "holloa" put us on his line again, and he 

 went to ground in a very few minutes in the 

 railwa}^ embankment, where he was dug and 

 devoured in a snowstorm. During this short 

 run the hounds had a narrow escape. The up- 

 train came round the corner out of the tunnel 

 and ran almost into the middle of the pack ; but 

 the driver promptly applied his powerful vacuum 

 l)rake, and (no doubt much to the surprise of 

 his passengers) was fortunately able to stop the 

 engine, and though the hounds crossed before 

 and behind the train, utterly regardless of their 

 danger, and almost heedless of Tom's rate, not 

 one was injured ; but it was a most nervous 

 moment for the field, who watched it all from 

 the bridge. The day was bitterly cold, and 

 there was no sport in the afternoon. 



