In the Shires. 93 



to the woods, lie is rattled about for awhile, being 

 finally broken up. After this, the hounds draw away 

 to the woods at the foot of the slopes, until they reach 

 a cover near the Belvoir Inn, where a fox is soon afoot, 

 and, breaking away, he runs straight up to me. In 

 vain I crack my whip, in order to drive him towards 

 the open. He makes for the gardens, and after 

 running about for a few minutes, is caught in one of 

 the hothouses, to be turned down soon after, and run 

 into after a few minutes' spin. Then again, the hounds 

 draw the pieces of gorse on the down-like hills that 

 stand on the further side of the lake, and in a short 

 time a fox goes away at a pace, leaving Knipton to 

 the right, and running for the open ; but the scent is 

 cold, and, after a short time, he is lost. 



Availing myself of Frank Gillard^s ofiPer to view the 

 kennels and hounds, I halt awhile for that purpose. 

 Alighting at the pleasantly- situated home of the 

 huntsman, I am shown into a drawing-room em- 

 bellished with numerous sporting prints and trophies 

 of the chase, and I specially note two arm-chairs 

 covered with skins of favourites of the stud, so pre- 

 served as to show the manes and tails. I place myself 

 under the guidance of the kennel huntsman, and 

 proceed to inspect the establishment, which is on a 

 grand scale, admirably placed for drainage, and al- 

 together suitable for the accommodation of the pack, 

 which consists of somewhere about sixty couple of 

 hounds. The beauty, evenness, uniformity of colour, 

 and family likeness, at once strike the eye, confirming 

 the opinion expressed on a former occasion, that for 

 beauty these hounds stand unrivalled, whilst their 

 condition shows the great care and attention that is 



