nVE MILES IN TWELVE MINUTES. 25 



where we had generally the good kick to overhaul 

 them, after rmimiig through the long string of 

 woodlands called Webb's Woods and Lydiard 

 Plam. Others we killed from the same covert on 

 the open downs, after running over the vale 

 through ComptoUo 



From Beckhampton Gorse we had also a few 

 clippers occasionally. 



One, the fastest skurry I ever saw, when the 

 hounds ran five miles in twelve minutes, all over 

 turf without a fence, pulling him down by them- 

 selves, and beating every horse out (many thorough- 

 bred ones), and a field of over two hundred horse- 

 men from the three adjoining hunts, with their 

 masters and best riders, the Duke of Beaufort, 

 Assheton Smith, and other celebrated performers. 



From this gorse we had also a very good rim to 

 Lydiard Park, beyond AVootton Bassett ; and from 

 Greatwood, in the Christian Malford Vale, we ran 

 a fox to within five miles of Farringdon, in Berk- 

 shire. I make no mention of bursts varying from 

 fifteen to fifty minutes, which, on good scenting 

 days, any other pack of well - bred fox-hounds 

 might have finished off in as good style as our 

 own ; l)ut, for perseverance and working through 

 difiiculties, the blood of old John Ward stood un* 

 rivalled ; and as a proof of the estimation in which 



