HUNTING HARE AND WITCH. 69 



on, come weal, come woe, to the bitter end. It was a sad 

 day for Peg ; a sadder day for one or more of the followers. 

 Bell was out, Stephen Ainsley was out, Dick Spink was there, 

 as was Isaac Johnson and a few more farmers. They went 

 to the Helmsley end of the dale to Rowper Sands, not far 

 distant from East Moors. From an article I wrote some 

 years ago to " Badminton," I take the following account 

 of this old hunters' bugbear : — 



On one of her " hare days," as George Bell and Bobbie Dawson, 

 who firmly believed in these stories, called them, it was the lot of the 

 Bilsdale Hounds to get on to her, and the dance she led them is not 

 forgotten in the dale to-day. Isaac Johnson was on his black " gallow- 

 er," and the rest were on foot, as was their wont when hunting puss. 

 One of the biggest hares " 'at ivver gat up i' front o' hoonds were 

 putten up on Rowper," and for four hours did she lead those hardy dales 

 sportsmen over moor and bog and hill. Still, not knowing what to be 

 tired meant, and scorning the thought of leaving hounds so long as they 

 were running, or any hope of their doing 60 remained, they watched and 

 waited till her circles ever and anon made it possible for them to actually 

 join in the chase and full excitement of this wonderful hunt. At other 

 times they had to be content with listening to the music which the dales 

 sportsmen love so much. They had vaguely hinted that it must be 

 " Awd Peg." Well ! let it be so, they would go the whole hog now and 

 see the hunt through to the far, and if need be, bitter end. At last, 

 it was a matter no longer for doubt. Puss was making for East Moors. 

 It was Peg ! Be it so ; they still followed, intoxicated by the sport 

 they had had. On, on, at a pace faster than ever she had gone before 

 this witched-hare sped. At last Peg's farmyard was reached, and 

 through the " bow " hole into the barn she fled. Even yet, amazed 

 at their own daring, the hunters followed. The barn was fastened from 

 the inside, they smashed it open, and there lying on some straw, was the 

 erstwhile hare ; panting, exhausted, trembling in every limb, lay Peg. 

 " Oh ! " she gasped, " I've been fothering, an' t' wind's blown t'door to. 

 Come in an' hev a glass o' yal ; Ah lay you'll be tired after that lang 

 hunt you've had." To Bobbie she said, " Ah wadn't hot thoo, thoo's 

 some yan's lad." To old Isaac she spake naught, but she charmed 

 his ale, and immediately after leaving he complained of feeling ill. 

 Though Dr. Ness was called in, I believe from Kirbymoorside or Helm- 

 sley, he could do nothing to save the old fellow, who was convinced 

 he had been bewitched. He died very shortly after, and Bobbie always 

 wondered that he himself had not been " hodden that way." 



One more story of this evil old dame, and I must pass on. I 

 could tell many like legends of her, but will content myself with giving 

 an account as told to me of the last occasion on which she was run by 



