BOBBIE DAWSON. 97 



science in the field. He was also well-known as a cricketer, and 

 at the wicket he seems to have been really a first-class man. 

 He was a member of the dale club, which met as its opponents 

 the surrounding teams of Kirbymoorside, Helmsley , Stokesley 

 Great Ayton, and Ingleby Greenhow. At one time, cricket 

 was a great game in Daleland, nor is enthusiasm wanting 

 to-day. Twenty j^ears ago, however, more was thought of 

 a long stay at the wickets than a big score. Once Bilsdale 

 played Great Ayton. They won the toss, and Dawson went 

 in first. Slowly he walked up to the wicket, and, spitting 

 on his hands with great determination, he prepared himself 

 for the " Yatton bowlers." Ball after ball came, and at 

 last Bob got tired of running, so quietly kept the fielders 

 busy. At last, tired with the monotony, one bowler said, 

 " Well, All's gahin' yam fur sum tea afoor Ah bowl anuther 

 ball." Still Bob was quiet — it took a great deal even in that 

 day to make him demonstrative, unless he fancied something 

 detrimental was being done to fox-hunting, then he soon 

 became roused. He was not asked to join the bowler at 

 tea, so complacently sat down, and was ready for him on his 

 return. They never did get him out, and a similar occurrence 

 once took place at Stokeslej', when Robert and Steve Ainsley 

 went in first together. 



Occasionally Bobbie was commandered as umpire, and 

 once — when Bilsdale was playing the police at Helmsley, I 

 fancy — he was acting in this capacity. One of his home 

 team was fairly put out, but the umpire pretended to be 

 looking the other way. He was appealed to, " How's that ? " 

 " Ah warn't quite leeaking," he answered, " bud if t' dayvell 

 diz it ageean he'll 'a'e ta gan oot." Even when playing 

 cricket Peg Humphrey, the ubiquitous "weean," as he called 

 her, did not leave them unmolested, and Dawson told me of 

 one occasion when the witch, who gave them so much trouble 

 in the hunting field, in her wonted form of a hare, ran over 

 the pitch, snatched up the ball, and made off with it, nor 

 was it ever found again. 



I have already stated that Dawson was not a little super- 

 stitious. He often talked of witches, of spirits, of haunted 



