164 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



standing over it for that purpose, the flesh-fork slipped, 

 and he fell into the boiling broth, dreadfully scalding 

 his legs and thighs ; but he recovered from the accident 

 and went to hunt the Cheshire hounds for Sir Harry 

 Mainwaring and the subsequent masters till after 

 Captain White took them, when he entered upon the 

 quieter life of an inn-keeper at Sandiway Head. Upon 

 the North Staffordshire hounds being established, he 

 again returned to ' active service.' In the cabalistic 

 engagement of breeding hounds he has been eminently 

 successful, and he has had more than one occasion of 

 putting his talent to the test. Having brought the 

 Cheshire hounds- to a state of great perfection, they 

 were attacked with the fearful disorder called kennel 

 madness, and in consequence nearly the whole of the 

 pack fell a sacrifice. This was soon after Captain 

 White had them. It was then necessary to form a 

 fresh pack. When the North Staffordshire hounds were 

 established, Maiden had to renew his labours. In 1845, 

 he commenced with drafts from the Duke of Rutland's, 

 Lords Yarborough's, Chesterfield's, and Ducie's; 

 Messrs. Foljambe's, Osbaldeston's, Hodgson's and 

 Horlock's kennels ; principally from Mr. Foljambe's, 

 but in all, only five and twenty couples. The following 

 year an augmentation was effected by the purchase of 

 the Worcestershire hounds, but there is not much of 

 that blood now left. From the reports I have heard, 

 Maiden has once more succeeded in forming a very 

 superior pack. 



George Mountford, who for several years hunted the 

 Quorn hounds, was also a Shropshire man. The 

 eccentric Tom Moody, who was whipper-in for Mr. 

 Forester, must not be forgotten; there are many 

 curious anecdotes related of him in the county, one of 

 which exemplifies the ready tact which he possessed 

 when in what is termed ' a fix.' Endeavouring to cross 

 one of the dingles, which are numerous in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Willey, his horse fell upon him, and he 

 was unable to extricate himself, whereupon he gave one 



