176 CLEVELAND AND ESKDALE. 



of ale for them, and as the hounds went off one 

 hearty old fish- wife was heard to say, as she 

 smacked her lips after finishing a pint, that "she 

 didn't mind hoo seean 't hoonds killed another 

 fox agean Steers. 



Mr, Proud's mastership ceased at the end of 

 the season 1885-86, and he was succeeded by 

 Mr. W. H. A. Wharton, who had been Master 

 of the Hurworth the two previous seasons. 



Mr. Wharton hunted and still hunts his own 

 hounds, so there was a complete change in the 

 establishment when the hounds moved to Skelton 

 Castle ; Pacey, as kennel huntsman and first whip, 

 and Arnett, as second whip, coming with the 

 Squire from Hurworth, whilst Nicoll went to 

 Sir Reginald Graham. Before Nicoll left he was 

 presented with a silver horn and a purse of gold 

 subscribed for by the members and friends of the 

 hunt ; and during the summer a testimonial was 

 presented to Mr. Proud in recognition of the 

 services he had rendered to the hunt durinsf his 

 seven years tenure of office. 



The Cleveland had hitherto been a two days a 

 week pack, but wlien Mr. Wharton took hold he 

 determined to try to hunt three days a week if 

 the foxes held out, wliich they did very well. 

 With both the men new to the country, and 

 many of the hounds in the same predicament, and 

 scent being far below the average in Cleveland, 

 it was not expected that anything exceptionally 



