SEASON 1879-80 137 



awkward predicament he was placed in through 

 his horse making a mistake at a trappy fence. 

 Hounds had roused a fox in Casthorpe Covert, and 

 the first obstacle away was a wide drain full of 

 water, with a stake-and-bound fence on the top 

 of a bank. The lead was given by Mr. Tom 

 Hutchinson, whose horse popped over, climbed 

 the bank, and got the right side of the stake-and- 

 bound without making any fuss about it. Mr. 

 Cross was not so successful when he attempted 

 to follow, for after clearing the drain his horse 

 reared up on the bank and came backwards with 

 his rider into the water. A providential presenti- 

 ment told Gillard what was going to happen, and 

 directly the horse fell back on to the bank he was 

 ready to seize him round the neck with both arms 

 and hold him there, preventing his rider from 

 drowning: at the bottom of the stream. It was 

 a very awkward position, and he had to be dragged 

 out, being partly held down by the horse against 

 the bank side, and in doing this his top-boots were 

 again left behind. Mr. " Banker " Hardy, who saw 

 the accident, always said Gillard saved a victim from 

 a watery grave by prompt action, compliment- 

 ing him on his great strength of arm to hold the 

 horse up to the bank side for so long a time. 



On January 12th, after meeting at Elton Manor, 

 a fox was found in Whatton Hall Plantation, and 

 setting his mask for Smite Hill Gorse, he received 

 something of a header from the flames that leapt 

 up from the covert, which was being grubbed up 

 and burnt, having outgrown itself. This gorse 



