1885. 1 65 



Plantation ; on, fast, to Bide's Gorse, where he 

 made a sharp turn and ran back to Sweet Hills, 

 beyond which we had a short check, but, 

 recovering the line, they hunted him well to 

 the Home Covers at Holnest, but were never 

 on good terms with him afterwards, and so the 

 fox had the best of it. 



December 29th. — 



General Parke opened his hospitable doors, 

 and welcomed all to Thornhill. After partaking 

 of an excellent breakfast we found our fox, 

 who was waiting for us in Hargrove. He ran 

 sharply away for the river, which some forded, 

 while others availed themselves of Bagber Bridge, 

 and away for the left hand side of Bagber Gorse, 

 parallel to that swampy green lane to Newton 

 Bridge, and here he bore slightly right again, 

 and up past Puxey Copse and to Badbury, 

 touching Deadmore ; and up that fine grass 

 country over the hill for Cockrow; here, at the 

 end of fifty-three good minutes, we had a check, 

 which gave the fox an opportunity of leaving 

 us, of which he was not slow to take advantage. 



