BUCKINGHAM IN LEGEND. 



25 



reference to the fierce riding. " A fierce rider," translated, 

 is a man who " rides straight," as the song says : — 



Three cheers for the man who ever rides straight, 

 Who flies every fence, and jumps every gate ; 

 Cheers for the man who comes down a cropper, 

 And cares not a rap, though he smashes his topper. 



I cannot see that there would be such occasion or oppor- 

 tunity for fierce riding when the woodlands were so extensive, 



BUCKINGHAM B STONE IN TARN HOLE (BILSDALE). 



and hounds were bred more for strength, nose, and cry than 

 speed — a desideratum which is being somewhat exaggerated 

 in the breeding of to-day. 



One story they have in the dale, which is no doubt 

 founded on fact, tells of a wonderful run in which the Duke 

 took part, and which resulted in a monument of his fame 

 as a fox-hunter being found in the dale to this day — Bucking- 

 ham's Stone. The story, as told me by Mr. Robert Garbutt, 

 is this : — 



" Some of the old dalesfolk affirm it was rolled into its present 

 position by the followers of the Duke's hunt by his express wish after a 

 wonderful and very long run, with his hounds, in which some say three 

 horses were killed. His Grace's horse— a favourite — dropped dead on 

 the very place, and was buried here." 



