212 Tally ho, 



pointing for Sproxton. Bearing away to the right, 

 we ran for Croxton Park, where we came to a check 

 and the Meltonians left; but Frank Gillard picked 

 up his fox again, and followed him through Grandby 

 Gorse, on to Bullimer, then back again across the 

 Waltham-road, by the old tollbar, and away towards 

 Stonesby, where the hounds were whipped off, as night 

 had closed o'er them. As I rode home to Melton, 

 Captain Myddleton overtook me, and said that five 

 couples of hounds, which had separated from the pack, 

 went away with another fox, that he had enjoyed a 

 merry spin by himself for thirty minutes, and that 

 he should have killed his fox if he had had any one 

 to whip in to him. 



On the Thursday, the annual Christmas Show of 

 the Rutland Agricultural Society was held at Oakham. 

 The day was miserably cold and wet, but, nevertheless, 

 there was a large attendance ; and the mud, though 

 ankle-deep, did not frighten the pretty girls of Rut- 

 landshire from visiting the fat beasts, and witnessing 

 the prowess of the horsemen in their competition for 

 prizes. They jumped in good form, Mr. Stokes 

 taking several prizes, handling his horses in excellent 

 fashion. The Honourables Hugh and Charles Lowther 

 rode boldly and well, but were unsuccessful, as I know 

 to my cost, having backed Mr. Charles for a small sum 

 with a sporting butcher to take the prize, with his 

 varmint-looking flea-bitten grey, which looked all 

 over a hunter. The show of cattle was first-rate, 

 some magnificent beasts being exhibited — the prime 

 sheep and extremely apoplectic pigs attracting much 

 attention. 



On Friday the Cottesmore met at Burley-on-the* 



