xxii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



IX. THE DEATH. — The yEneid of Virgil ends with a death, and 

 a chase is not complete without it. The fox dies within half a 

 mile of Woodwell Head, evidently his point from the first ; 

 the pack pulling him down in the middle of a large grass 

 field, every hound but one at his brush. Jack Stevens with 

 him in his hands would be a subject worthy of Edwin Land- 

 seer himself : a black-thorn, which has laid hold of his cheek, 

 has besmeared his upper garments with blood, and one side 

 of his head and cap are cased in mud, by a fall he has had in 

 a lane, his horse having alighted in the ruts from a high flight 

 of rails ; but he has ridden the same horse throughout the 

 run, and has handled him so well, he could have gone two 

 miles farther, if the chase had been continued so long. — 

 Osbaldeston's who-hoop might have been heard to Cottesmore 

 had the wind set in that direction, and every man present is 

 ecstatic with delight. " Quite the cream of the thing," says 

 Lord Gardner. " The cream of everything in the shape of 

 fox-hunting," observes that excellent sportsman Sir James 

 Musgrave, looking at that moment at his watch. "Just ten 

 miles, as the crow flies, in one hour and ten minutes, with 

 but two trifling checks, over the finest country in the world." 

 "What superb hounds are these !" added the baronet, 

 as he turned his horse's head to the wind. "You are right," 

 says Colonel Lowther, " they are perfect. I wish my father 

 had seen them do their work to-day." — Some of the field now 

 come up who could not live in the first flight ; but as there is 

 no jealousy here, they congratulate each other on the fine day's 

 . sport, and each man turns his head towards home To face page 272 



X. THE MEETING. Kirby Gate.— Childers Inn. Kirby Toll 



Gate. Sir F. Burdett's House. Melton Mowbray To face page 304 



XI. BREAKING COVER. Billesdon Coplow.— Galby. Billes- 

 don Coplow. Houghton. Botany Bay Cover. Scrap Toft 

 Spinney. Heyham. Ingersby Spinney. Hungerton. Barkby 

 Holt. Quonby Hall To face page 304 



XII. FULL CRY. Wissendine Pasture.— The Cover. Wissen- 

 dine Brook. Freeby Wood. Waltham Stonesby. Buck- 

 minster. Wymondham. Wissendine . . To face page 336 



XIII. THE DEATH. View of Kettleby.— Mr. Crosse's House. 

 Great Home Close. Kettleby Church. Road to Melton. 

 Bilsdon Coplow ...... To face page 336 



