366 THE QUORN HUNT 



Stud. Craigmillar Castle was part of the Gilmour 

 property. 



The season of 1887-88 opened as usual at Kirby 

 Gate, when, in spite of the crowd, a very decent run 

 ensued, the pack making a point of something like eight 

 miles, while for the first thirty minutes hounds ran hard. 

 The best part of the gallop, however, was really seen by 

 three only, and for that piece of good luck they ought to 

 have been, and undoubtedly were, thankful. Several 

 foxes were found at Gartree Hill, but the one to which 

 the hounds were "engaged" was not long in going to 

 ground. Then they drew Burrough Hill Spinney, a 

 covert from which nobody perhaps remembered a run 

 taking place ; but on this occasion there was a fox at 

 home, and he showed the run of the day. 



On the whole, the season of 1887-88 was about 

 the worst on record, but in March a good run or two 

 took place by way of redemption. The season, how- 

 ever, was not destined to come to an end without some 

 accidents, and in February, when the Quorn hounds 

 were running between Bunny and Clifton, while cross- 

 ing the farm of Mr. Gunn, near Ruddington, Mr. 

 Barker, who was riding a little way behind Tom Firr, 

 rode at a dead fence through which a wire ran ; the 

 huntsman, taught by previous experience, and blessed 

 with a keen eye, had the good luck, it was said, to see 

 the wire, and called to two others to pull up. Mr. 

 Barker, however, unfortunately did not hear the timely 

 warning, as, when two other members of the field 

 galloped up, they found him lying on the ground in an 

 insensible condition. Another accident occurred to Mrs. 

 Murray Smith, sister of Lord Belper, whose shoulder 

 was put out. 



The following June saw Lord Combermere, Captain 

 the Hon. F. Johnston, and Mr. E. P. Rawnsley the 

 judges at Peterborough Show, at which the Ouorn were 



