148 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



swam across that the river was fordable — I knew 

 there was an ancient ford somewhere close. I 

 therefore said, " It is all right," to which Firr 

 replied, "Go on then, sir." It was a beastly cold 

 day, but I had to go then. My horse was bold, and 

 did not hesitate to plunge in, but the ford was not 

 there, and he had to swim. Our difficulties began 

 on reaching the farther bank, and what had looked 

 like a decent place to get out proved a bog. I 

 managed to pull the poor old horse out, and then 

 discovered the landing-place I had chosen was the 

 outfall of the village sewer. Firr watched me until 

 I had crossed, and then galloped round, when, of 

 course, he reached hounds before me. There were 

 some half-dozen men in the field to my left, and 

 what annoyed me was that they found the old ford 

 and crossed without having to swim. 



The fox was lost eventually close to Barrow 

 village in a snowstorm, and I beheve the master 

 considered I was more than half responsible for 

 the failure of the scent. I do know that every 

 one held their noses when I went near them. My 

 dear old friend Mr. " Bill " Martin lent me clothes 

 to ride home in, or rather I borrowed them without 

 asking ; but if he had been there the pages of the 

 County Gentleman would have been enlivened by a 

 vivid account of a black and highly scented " Q." 



This brings Captain Warner's Mastership to an 

 end, and the period which I have enjoyed most in 

 all the years I have hunted. There were many good 

 runs during his time of office, but what I think 

 more to the point is, that hounds nearly always 

 provided some sport whenever they were able to 

 hunt. Captain Warner was very methodical, and 



