Melton Mowbray. 195 



from the Hon. Hugh Lowther, who appeared to be the 

 acting master of the day^ I trotted off to Ranksborough, 

 in order that I might be in time to see the hounds 

 thrown into cover^ and to witness^ if possible, the find 

 and the start from this noted gorse. Mounting the 

 hill, I saw lying before me a line of country which is 

 not to be equalled. Should the hounds run straight 

 in the direction of Teigh, a glorious gallop, with the 

 opportunity of having a shy at the Whissendine, is the 

 result. Every writer, from " Nimrod " downwards, 

 has sung the praises of this particular spot ; sufficient, 

 therefore, for me to say that no prettier sight is to be 

 seen than that which I beheld on this occasion, stand- 

 ing, as I did, on the summit of the hill, watching the 

 l^rge field of well-known men taking their favourite 

 positions to ensure a good start. 



'^Hark in, hark !^^ cries the huntsman, and the hounds 

 dash into the cover, drawing steadily for a while, then 

 a view halloo is heard, and I see a fox stealing away 

 from an outlying patch of gorse, making his way 

 in the direction of Cold Overton. Then Neale gallops 

 up, and the hounds are soon on the line of the fox, and 

 they go away a rattler up the hill, and on to the 

 village, where they come to a check. But, the wind 

 blowing cold, with a stormy atmosphere, there was but 

 little scent, and, after several casts, the hounds being 

 unable to pick up the scent, we left him to his fate, 

 and, drawing a small spinney by the way, which, how- 

 ever, did not hold a fox, we trotted back to Ranks- 

 borough and tried our luck again. 



Soon a hound speaks, and Neale cries, "^Have at 

 him there ! " and after a short time " Gone away ! " 

 '' Gone away ! '' is the cry, and I see the fox going in 



13—2 



