Bohn peel 49 



only just realised that the pair had levanted, when John 

 Peel's stentorian view-halloo was heard outside his 

 father's homestead ; and, coolly dismounting, he helped 

 Mary from the pillion and formally introduced her to 

 the astonished parents as his wedded wife. 



Of course there was a flare-up at both houses. But 

 there was no getting over the fact that the young couple 

 were ' fast-buckled,' and the only thing to be done was 

 to make the best of it. So, the truant lovers were 

 forgiven, and Parson Lynn of Caldbeck was called upon 

 to marry them over again in the parish church, that 

 there might be no mistake about the knot being legally 

 and irrevocably tied. 



The saddle and pillion upon which the stout nag 

 Binsey bore the lovers to Gretna Green twain, and 

 brought them back one, are still preserved in the family 

 of John Peel's eldest son, who lived to the patriarchal 

 age of ninety and died but eleven years ago. 



Unlike many persons who marry in haste to repent 

 at leisure, John and Mary Peel never had any reason to 

 regret their romantic flight across the Border. Their 

 union was a happy one, and John became the proud 

 father of thirteen children, the eldest of whom, a boy 

 was a thorough chip of the old block and as keen a 

 sportsman as his sire. 



I have described John Peel as a huntsman, but he was 

 really far more than that. For, though not what you 

 could call a Master of Hounds, he for fifty-five years 

 kept, solely at his own expense, a pack, usually of twelve 

 couples, which he hunted and whipped-in himself, till his 

 son, young John, was old enough to act as his whipper- 

 in. The pack was a mongrel one of all sorts and sizes, 

 but the hounds were rare good ones for work, though 



D 



