Terms, Five Dollars a Year. 
Ten Cents a Copy. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1876. 
Volume 6, Number 25. 
17 Chatham 8t. (City Hallbqr.) 
Fur FojvM and Stream. | 
Shotting the d'olottwl 
A FOX HUNT AT BELVOIR. 
W E left the huntsmen breaking in the cover for a 
trail.* The signal is given, and the horns sound a 
tuneful note, which is answered back by the mellow bay 
of the hounds. The gentlemen cluster on a hill near by 
as the dogs disappear iu a brake and are lost to sight, ex¬ 
cept where they move the cover, as though a strong wind 
were passing over it. If tlieie is a trail, no matter how 
cold, it will be struck ofC to a certainty, for every inch of 
ground is beihg gone over. A few minutes afterwards 
half a dozen dogs are seen to dash out with their noses on 
the ground, eagerly crossing and recrossing the path, and 
whiniug to each other, no doubt in their dog language, 
wondering whether any “old red" had been wandering 
there the night before. “Hark away! good dog!" cried the 
master, blowing a cheery uote on his horn, and the hounds, 
circling around and giving a quick bark, dived again into 
cover. “No fox here,” said one. “Don’t be in a hurry,” 
replied the master; “the dogs are driving beautifully,” 
As he spoke the cover shook, and a low whimper was 
heard from one of the dogs, followed by a loud challenge 
from another, “That’s old Jupe and Ringwood," cried 
the master; “Lookout!” anrl as he sounded a clear blast 
from his horn, a deafening burst from the pack replied. 
“Tally ho! tally ho!" shouted the master, ibe fox is start¬ 
ed, and away wem the pack like mad, for the scent was 
very warm, aud the lox had probably stolen away when 
the first notes of the dogs reached him, and had fully an 
hour’s start. On went the pack with their uoaes down and 
their sterns up, filling the air wiih theirloud baying, and 
close behind them galloped the hunters. It was a beauti¬ 
ful country to run in, mostly of broad, well-tilled fields, 
miDgled with Open forests and swampy lowlands. The 
trail lay directly across an immense field newly seeded in 
wheat, which afforded a superb view as the dogs swept 
forward nearly in a straight line. 
The horsemen now settle themselves down for steady 
work. They know what is before tUem, and each rider is 
saving his steed all he can. Major Bullett is in the ad¬ 
vance, and the trad keeps across the ground as straight as 
an arrow. A Virgitda snake fence—an ugly piece of tim¬ 
ber to jump—bars the way, but the Major takes it with a 
slinging sweep. Lord Fairfax, on his huge stallion, pass¬ 
es over with a rush, and young George flies over like a 
stone hurled from a. sling. All the rest gallantly made for 
it, but several of the horsemen, splendidly raounied as 
they were, came to grief and had some bad falls, but no¬ 
body slopped to help them, and mounting the best they 
could the unfortunates limped back to the rendezvous, 
where they drowned their disappointment in deep pota¬ 
tions of his lordship’s best liquor. Once across the field* 
the pack divide in the woods and then string off to the 
lowlands. Another fence has to be jumped, and it is a 
point of pride with every cavalier to take everything as it 
comes along. Then the ground becomes so swampy that 
the horsemen are brought to a halt; they gather in a group 
and listen breathlessly to the bays of the hounds. The old 
vixen is evidently making for his burrow, and unless he is 
pressed too hard he will gain it, and then good-bye to all 
sport, for the hunt will be up. But by the eager, frenzied 
yells of the dogs it is plain they are driving him hard. 
“He Will make for the open country now,” said the mas¬ 
ter, and such was the fact, for the wily animal, pushed so 
close, takes a circling stretch and starts back again, to a 
field far off to the right, and soon the distant cry of the 
pack comes sweetly upon the breeze, as they listen with 
their souls in their ears. Suddenly a cry from one of the 
huntsmen causes the others to glance in the direction of 
his extended whip, and away off, like a speck in the dis¬ 
tance, the fox is seen running for his life. With a sound¬ 
ing shout the horsemen drive iu their spurs and are off like 
the wind, iu his direction, and as they push on they see the 
hounds running breast higb, for the scent now lies over¬ 
whelmingly strong, and every dog is giving tongue. As 
the gentlemen dash on the parson leads the charge, waving 
his three-cornered hat and shouting like a schoolboy. They 
are just in time to see the fox cross a high fence. He goes 
down several panels before he jumps it, aud then keeps on 
toward a forest cover. It is a pretty sight to see the dogs 
cross the fence. The more excitable launch themselves to 
the top, aud go across like successive billows breaking over 
a rock. Some wise old fellows squeeze themselves through 
the panels and overtake their fellows, but by the time they 
cross the fox is lost in the woods. The horsemen leap the 
fence and keep close up to Jupe and Music, young Byrd’s 
dogs, which are running neck and neck. It is getting very 
exciting, and every horse is let out and urged forward. A 
few hundred yards another fence looms up. The dogs 
cross it iu a second, and every horse was run sheer at it, 
but it proves a cropper to many, among them the parson. 
Fully a third of the riders either get bad falls or their 
horses “crave." 
Now is the great moment. Who is up? and who is lost? 
Our fancy supplies us, and we think we can name them 
all. Look to the right. Borne distance behind the pack 
we see two men riding superbly, taking everything in theii 
path, One is the Earl, his huge thoroughbred taking gi¬ 
gantic leaps; the other is his young surveyor. The old, 
reckless, racing spirit is strong in them both, and all un¬ 
curbed now, and they are racing as if for the King’s Cup 
at the Derby. A length behind is Major Bullett, who is 
using his horse with great skill and nerve; a short distance 
back, plenty close to enjoy the run, is the rest of the field. 
All are pushing their horses, while the glorious baying of 
the hounds in their ears intoxicates them like wine. It is 
a tough old veteran they are after, and the fox still keeps 
his path for several miles straight as the crow flies, skim¬ 
ming the earth almost as fast as a swallow, crosses several 
fences, goes through a clearing, scampers in and out of a 
farm yard, dashes through a brown sedge field, and seems 
to be determined to win by sheer bottom, The pace be¬ 
gins to tell on the dogs as they follow him relentless as 
fate; and now it id that a strain of bad blood, or a defect 
of body begins to show. Many display symptoms of dis¬ 
tress, and fully a score are limping painfully behind, howl¬ 
ing pitifully in their rage and distress as their companions 
leave them in the rear. The way now is across country, 
and each horseman has to pull iu and ride with caution 
and judgment, for it is bad ground—a hilly, rough and un¬ 
even old cornfield—and the wearied horses can hardly 
keep from falling. Six riderless horses are flying wildly 
across the field, the stirrups dashing against the saddles, 
and a report passes from mouth to mouth that one or two 
are seriously hurt; hut there is no time for inquiries. The 
dogs are almost out of sight, sfml the hunters spur up. 
They cross the bad ground at last, but find that a post aud- 
rail fence is in their path. A warning shout from the Earl 
and all nerve themselveB for the fearful leap, His lordship 
tries it first, but his horse goes crashing on to the top rail, 
evenly balanced, and plays see-saw for some seconds, final¬ 
ly struggling bapk on the same side, dead lame. Not so 
with young George Washington. He sails gracefully over 
one panel as Major Bullett jumps the other, and both 
speed on, with nearly a score of horses not far behind. 
The sight is splendid. They are uow in another immense 
field, as level as a floor, and in full sight of the fox, who 
is making the ground fly under him in hia attempt to get 
to a coppice beyond. The dogs running mute, and with 
heads high in the air, it is a sight to thrill the nerves and 
make the pulses beat with a wild joy. Away, away, and 
and the horsemen ply their whips until their steeds race 
on with every muscle strained. Slowly they gain on the 
hunted vixen, and a wild cheer bursts from the leading ri¬ 
ders' Ups, for they feel certain now of getting the brush. 
But Monsieur Lo Reynard is not going to relinquish his 
tail without another struggle, for when they reach the woods 
the baffled cry of the hounds meets their ear; they find the 
whole pack circling in every direction trying to hit off the 
scent, but the trail and the fox seem to have vanished. 
This diversion gives the horses a breathing spell, and the 
riders all dismount and unbuckle their girths. 
Tbo pause is of short duration, however, for the master 
coming up and making a few of the staunchest dogs make 
a wide circuit and “draw cover," easily picks up the 
trail, when a ringing blast from his curved horn brings all 
the dogs and riders to him. Then all keep on after Old 
Reynard. Only those who have witnessed it can under¬ 
stand in what an extraordinary manner hounds that are 
left behind in a cover can make their way through a crowd 
and catch up with the leaders of the pack. They thread 
their way unerringly through the legs of the horses, who 
are running at full speed, aud it is very rare for one to get 
marred or killed. Forward the whole pack kept on with 
a “good crash," but Juperhas usurped the place of old 
Reynard. Poor dog! he was doing his best, hut age was 
telling on him. Now the trail leads them into a field which 
is covered with sheep grazing on the winter's wheat. To 
run among the sheep is a favorite ruse of the fox; but with 
the veteran dogs it does him no service, for the sheep scat¬ 
ter into a half circle as the fox goes through, aud tire 
dogs keep on without any diminution of their speed. The 
fox, hard pressed, has again to trust to his legs, aud it is 
to be a fair run now, with no shifts, evasions, or stiale- 
gems, and the often discussed and mooted question which 
can last the longest and has the most bottom—a fox, a 
hound, or a horse—is now to be tested. 
All know that this is to be the last and final push, and 
he will be a proud man who can gain the brush after such 
a desperate chase. The rivalry that makes men do or die 
swells each breast and fills each heart, and as every horse 
launches forward, every rider makes up his mind to be in 
at the finish, if reckless riding and fearless spirit can do 
it. But as they sweep on, young Byrd pulls up, the Earl, 
whose horse is laboring painfully, does the same, and Cary 
follows suit, for iu their front is a wide stream, deep and 
rapid, with high, precipitous banks. They fear lo attempt 
it with their knocked-up horses, and ride along to cross at 
the ford. Ned Ambler, who has judiciously kept back, 
now surges forward and ranges alongside of Washington 
and Major Bullet, who have never drawu rein one instant, 
and all these settle themselves in the saddle, and grasping 
the rein3 with a firmer clutch, rise to the jump. It is a 
fearful one, and as they are hurled through the air they un¬ 
consciously close their eyes. Two land safe, and ride on 
without looking hack; but Ned Ambler's horse’s foot slips 
and down he goes in the middle of the stream, but the 
depth of the water saves him from serious harm, aud he 
scrambles out as best he can, and it is well Mistress Alary 
Cary cannot hear the savage oaths and see the way the 
heavy-loaded whip strikes the losing horse. The Earl has 
practically given up the chase, Lhe others are too far be¬ 
hind to catch up, and the young Surveyor and the Major 
speed along side by side. A high-looking, orazy old incld- 
sure is in their path. It is a huge concern—a rotten, an¬ 
cient fence, the rails tied together with hazel and grape¬ 
vine, and as the horsemen dash through they send the old 
panels, stakes and planks flying in every direction. The 
two struggle desperately on as only men can whose blood 
is heated with a wild excitement. The fox ia only twenty 
paces in front, evidently fast sinking, his tongue Hanging 
out, his tail down, yet game to the last, and running wilh 
all his failing power; the hounds are speeding along so 
close together that a table cloth oould cover the pack, their 
eyes gleaming like fire, and their wide, red mouths open. 
It is a splendid sight. Now a broad ditch intervenes, the 
fox disappears and rises again on the opposite side, tho 
docs duck down and are up again, stilt closer to him, the 
two riders urge their horses on with voice and spur, while 
the landscape reuls and spins by. They reach the ditch, 
and both jump, but the horse of Washington, missing his 
distance, stumbles headlong, and away goes bis rider from 
the saddle, falling among Hie pack, burling the dogs but 
breaking his own fall. Fortune favorea the gallant, Major, 
for, with a superb and final effort, he rises in tile ail' like 
the javelin, and strikes the ground lightly on the opposite 
side, and is among the dogs in a second. It is time. Jupe, 
