In spite of the gloomy outlook of the morning, the Master wisely decided that the advertised hunt should be laid, as unless a heavier downpour came on later, the country could not be heavy. When the time arrived for the start at 3.30 pin. at Black Auster's, the sky was gradually assuming a more cheerful aspect and was clear and bright before the finish near Trefaucha was reached. Abvut twenty members took part in the run, and fully that number of equestrian spectators rode from point to point.
It is always difficult to get ponies to face a nasty jump at the beginning of a run and one accident is usually the forerunner of several others, Black Auster's proved no exception on this occasion; it was not until having passed a few jumps near the Big Grave, including the Hurdles, that the original score" began to again get together.
On reaching Blydenburgh's Turn the leading eight turned to the left over the high bridge and scouted round for paper, Dut finding none, returned to the road, to see the other portion of the hunt at least x couple of miles away, in full cry, but under able guidance of Mr. Dudgeon the ight" went steadily on, over the wooden bridge opposite the Turn, across to the Fahwah wade, and down the Tunsin line to the tidal creek, where a temporary check had brought the then leaders toa standstill, but an excellent and far-sighted hound was back to the true scent with little delay, and the whole hunt was once again' en route, and at a merry race we followed Castigutor to the cut reed jump in the corner. and crossing the Jessfield Road and turning to the' left, covered the line up to the Cow Bridge. Some went over it, others preferred the wade, the broken bricks of which are at present well calculated, through being misplaced by the amiable natives, to injure ponies' feet. The long gallop on the Island enabled Castigutor to maintain his lead, by way of a part of the little round to a small water jump at the back of Trefancha, the finish, and the old pony just managed to. first between the fags closely followed by Mr. Ramsay on Othello, one of the eight. Mr. Crawford on Naylor was third, Mr. H. Maitland, heavy weight, fourth.
The foxes, Messrs. Hart Buck and Mid-Aleton, assisted by Mr. Callaway, chose a ood ron, and the country, thanks to the limited quantity of rain that had fallen, was excellent going.
"See Dans or stone-throwing sons of the tod" were conspicuous by their absence, thanks perhaps ina measure to the rough lesson one of them received on Christmas Day, which he had doubtless retailed to his sisters, cousins and aunts, and a communication through Mr. Archer to the tipao, of a Mixed Court nature.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.