CHAPTER IV 



HUNTING ON THE FELLS 



" The hounda but chop, the game is strong, 

 That pace of plight cannot be long, 

 Hark ! Tally-ho's from yon far height. 

 And now the whinera wend in sight. 

 Through SUver Ghyll for Skiddaw FeU, 

 They'll kill him if he goes to h— 1 ! " 



No description of fell hunting would be complete 

 without a reference to John Peel, the famous 

 Cumbrian Master and Huntsman. 



Although Peel was well known in his own 

 country, his fame did not extend beyond the North, 

 until the old song, " D'3^e ken John Peel ? " 

 became popular. The spirited verses had little 

 vogue until after Peel's death in 1854, when the 

 song suddenly became fashionable. The original 

 song differs in some respects from the modern 

 version, particularly in the first line. " D'ye ken 

 John Peel with his coat so gay ? " is sung to-day, 

 whereas the original is, " Did ye ken John Peel 

 wi' his cwote sea}^ gray ? " 



