COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 187 



" My Dear Cheape, — 



" There's a deuced fine fox here, with a 

 brush as big as a bearskin cap. He looks into the 

 windows now and then. 



" I know where the rascal lives ; but till you get 

 him away from the stone and wire fences, horses 

 must needs be led, but he will break away west over 

 the hills (open). 



" I was very near letting drive at him, but couldn't 

 do it for my life. He has carried off neighbours' 

 ducks, and maybe some of mine, but they haven't 

 found heart to tell me. 



" May I request an early answer? 



" He is as bold as brass. 



" Yours ever, 



" R. Bruce." 



The following is from the Fifeshire Journal : — 

 ''A Brilliant Run with the Fife Foxhounds. 

 5th November, 1881. — The meet was at Aytonhill 

 on Saturday. The hounds were taken to Bal- 

 meadow Wood, and finding immediately got away 

 with an old fox through Collairnie Woods up to the 

 Mount Hill. Here Mr. Cairns of Parkhill, who 

 happened to be passing in his dog-cart, espied the 

 fox away on the east side of Moonzie Hill. The 

 hounds were at once laid on, and away we went. 

 Scent was, however, cold, and it was only by a series 

 of skilful and fortunate casts forward that the line 

 was kept past Lordscairnie and Hillcairnie to Club- 

 stone. Here there was a check ; but, hitting off 



