E. a. 119 



broken liills 'twixt The Coplow and Tilton, or Skeffing- 

 ton, carry a flying scent, grow whitethorn and blackthorn 

 in their stoutest shape, and so put a hunter to a test 

 requiring the climbing powers of a Welsh pony as well 

 as all the jumping talent of a Leicestershire hunter. 

 Now, the earliest and most eager had not circled the 

 base ere the leading hounds were seen breasting the 

 opposite slope, on which is situated what is always known 

 as Tomlin's Spinney. Two ploughed fields fill the 

 interval, and a well knitted stake-and-bound opposes tlie 

 rider halfway up the hill. Mr. G. Farquhar and Mr. H. 

 T. Barclay surmounted this, and were climbing to the 

 brow, at about the same pace and angle as flies on a 

 window pane, as Firr galloped down from the Coplow 

 with the body of the pack at his heels. Arrived at the 

 summit, the two were seen to separate — then, poising for 

 a moment on different points to scan the deep gullies 

 beyond, disappeared as utterly as the half dozen couples 

 of which they rode in search. So, from one hilltop to 

 another, the pair skirmished onward to keep the foremost 

 couples in sight ; and occasional glimpses, now of Mr. 

 Farquhar's black coat, now of ]\Ir. Barclay's shooting 

 jacket (the dishabille in keeping with a recent crushing 

 and scarce-recovered fall), now of the chestnut whisking 

 through a bullfinch, now of the bay topping a binder, 

 beckoned us, and guided the huntsman, in the required 

 direction. For a mile or so, over these rough hills and 

 pitches, the chase pointed towards Tilton ; then, bending 

 suddenly to the right, made Skeffington its apparent line. 

 Shepherd and liedgecutter were sounding a shrill duet 



