152 CLEVELAND AND ESKDALE. 



by the farmers in the neighbourhood, each man 

 keeping a hound or two, and were collected on 

 hunting days. Most of their followers went on 

 foot, but occasionally one or two were mounted. 

 There is not much record of their proceedings, 

 but some of their exploits are still remembered. 



One run they had of which they used to speak 

 with much pride. They found their fox in 

 Holmsgriff, and ran through wood and over moor 

 till they marked him to ground near Slape Wath. 

 When the distanced field arrived at the earth it 

 was determined to try to get him out, and after 

 a weary dig this was accomplished. Then arose 

 the question, " What shall we do with him ? " 

 and it was unanimously agreed that he should be 

 turned down before the hounds. ''But," said 

 the relator of the story, ** Ah'll uphaud ye we 

 gave 'em a neck hound," and he was killed in 

 the next field. The weary sportsmen now turned 

 their attention to refreshment, and adjourned to 

 the " Fox and Hounds " Inn close by, where 

 they stopped all night and most of the next day. 



On another occasion they found a fox in Kilton 

 Wood, and killed him in the pleasure grounds at 

 Skelton Castle. They were sore afraid the Squire""' 

 would be seriously offended at so unceremonious 

 an invasion, but he gave them a hearty welcome, 

 and, delighted with the fine run they had had, 



"'• Jolm Whartou, Esq., M.P. for Beverley, uncle of the present 

 owner of Skelton Castle. 



