Melton Mozvbray. 215 



Park, and a fox goes away in an instant, topping the 

 hill, and off at a slapping pace to Laxton's Gorse, 

 where we lost him. Then we try the cover in Staple- 

 ford Park, where we soon find, and the fox starts in 

 the direction of Wymondham. We now meet with 

 difficulties, having to find our way over a disused 

 canal first, and then the line of railway. Turning to 

 the right, I viewed the hunted fox, and fondly hoped 

 that the hounds were running him j but this delusion 

 was speedily dispelled, as I heard them in an opposite 

 direction. Putting spurs to my horse, I pounded after 

 them, galloping down a large old pasture, at the end 

 of which there was a very tall hedge-row with rails 

 intertwined j clearly a fence that could not be nego- 

 tiated at any price. " This way, sir,^-* said Horsepull 

 of Billesdon, a professional rider, who I had recently 

 seen perform in a marvellous way at some tremendous 

 fences. " It^s capital landing,^' he cried, as he 

 jumped a flight of rails and then popped over a big 

 fence. Had there been any alternative I would 

 gladly have taken it, as I am not at all in love with 

 flights of new posts and rails, which neither look 

 like bending or breaking. However, going at full 

 tilt — there being no time to lose — I landed safely, 

 and proceed on a stern chase, viewing another fox 

 on my way — but not the hunted one, for the hounds 

 are racing towards Coston ; from thence to Freeby 

 Wood, Thorpe Arnold, and Buttingby village, and 

 back to Stapleford Park; having run their fox 

 at a screaming pace for forty-five minutes. Amongst 

 the few who lived with the hounds was Mr. Grey, 

 who rides uncommonly well. Captain Myddleton, 

 Captain Hartopp — who, though a welter weight, rode 



