THE COUNTRY 11 



there are not more accidents. Although hardly 

 a season passes without a contretemps of some 

 kind, losses amongst hounds of the feU packs 

 through fatal accidents are comparatively rare. 



I have previously mentioned the fact that when 

 travelling the fells unaccompanied by a companion, 

 a sprained ankle may give one a pretty bad time, 

 and if night is drawing on may lead to having to 

 pass a riight on the open fell. As an example, I 

 may perhaps quote a case which happened not 

 many seasons ago. 



I was standing with a huntsman one winter's 

 day on Wetherlam. There was sufficient snow to 

 cover the loose stones and rocks, and make the 

 latter sHppery. The pack was running their fox 

 below us when we espied Reynard coming in our 

 direction. UncoupUng four hounds he had with 

 him the huntsman ran in to give these hounds a 

 view, when I saw him stumble and fall. On 

 reaching him I found he had sprained his ankle 

 very badly indeed, and in a short time his foot 

 swelled tremendously. With my assistance he 

 was able to travel some distance downhill, where I 

 finally left him and went in search of further help. 

 Luckily this was forthcoming in the shape of some 

 hunters whom I overtook, and aided by them the 

 wounded man was able to reach a road, where a 

 trap met him and conveyed him to his home. It 

 was some weeks before he could again hunt hounds, 



