138 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



was originally planted by Mr. Chaworth Musters 

 when he left the Quorn country, and it was re- 

 garded as a neutral covert for South Notts and 

 Belvoir. Ash Wednesday, always a great day 

 with the Belvoir, this season attracted a field of 

 over four hundred horsemen to the meet at Croxton 

 Park. There was a bite of frost in the air that 

 betokened a scent, and the influence of frost and 

 rain had worked wonders on the ground. A fox 

 was viewed by Will AA'^ells near to Sproxton 

 Thorns, and the information quietly given to his 

 chief, who obtained a flying start by lifting the 

 pack round the covert. Scoffers have been known 

 to hint at a bagman for the Belvoir Ash 

 Wednesday occasions, but the present knocks the 

 bottom out of such a suggestion. For twenty- 

 five minutes hounds screamed away by Coston, 

 Buckminster, and Sproxton where a brace were 

 running before the pack. On nearing Woodwell 

 Head scent became very low, and Gillard had to 

 render assistance, casting forward on the plough. 

 Just at a critical moment Wells's voice came 

 to set matters right, and away they streamed 

 at top speed down the hill by INIarket Overton, 

 going fast nearly to Barrow, leaving Teigh village 

 on the right. Not a gate was swung, and two were 

 jumped in quick succession, as the leading division 

 rode as if between the flags to keep hounds in view. 

 Mr. Hugh Lowther, now Lord Lonsdale, Mr. G. 

 Drummond, Mr. Rhodes, Captain Pennell Elmhirst, 

 Lord Esme Gordon, Mr. Gerald Paget, Captain 

 Byng, Captain Arthur Smith and Mrs. Candy were 



