156 1885. 



December loth. — 



Frostier. 



December nth. — 



Frostiest. 



December 12th. — 



A cold thaw began ; very reluctantly. 



December 14th. — 



The frost being gone, these hounds were out 

 again to-day, the meet being at Mr. Connop's, at 

 Fifehead Neville ; the only question was whether 

 or not there was any "bone" left in the ground 

 — a doubt which made the first fence or two 

 rather an uncomfortable process ; but the landing 

 was much as usual, and our hearts soon became 

 harder than the ground, as fence after fence had 

 to be negotiated at a slow pace, and with no 

 excitement, for, though we found immediately 

 in Cockrow, we could only follow him very 

 slowly towards Deadmore, and back through 

 Hazelbuiy village to Deadmore again, and on, 

 on a very faint line, through Badbury to Puxey 



