104. HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



His judgment was very sound, and his remarks 

 interesting to listen to, for he had a most delicate 

 sense of touch, and a good memory for hounds. 



Cub-hunting began this season on the last day 

 of August at Willoughby Gorse, ending November 

 3rd at the Rectory Covert, after 41 mornings' sport, 

 in which 55 cubs were accounted for, " Through 

 September the weather was moist, so we did 

 capitally, but during October scent was bad," is an 

 extract from the huntsman's diary. 



A red-letter day was November 14th from Coston 

 Covert, hounds racing with a breast-high scent to 

 Woodwell Head, accomplishing the distance in 12 

 minutes. Gillard took the time, and so did the 

 Rev. J. Mirehouse of Colsterworth, who was 

 always "a good docker." The Duke was very 

 pleased when he heard of this brilliant burst, and 

 remarked that it proved the Belvoir hounds were 

 faster than in Goosey's time. The run of the 

 afternoon too was worthy of mention, for hounds 

 got glued to the line of a traveller from Stonesby 

 Gorse, racing past Garthorpe to the Ashes and 

 Freeby, ending up with slow hunting nearly to 

 Brentingby, where darkness came on and all the 

 horses were beat. Those left to see the finish 

 were Lord Rossmore, Captain Candy, Mr. Richard 

 Hornsby, jun., and the Rev. J. Mirehouse. The 

 mention of names calls to mind incidents of the 

 chase. On one occasion in a gallop from Old 

 Hills to Melton, a gate served the leading division, 

 and whilst Mr. Little Gilmour, the king of the 

 heavy weights, was bending down with the crook of 



