sport in Mr. Cookson's era. 133 



and whip were both (together with a large portion of the field) 

 beaten off, the fox was again lost although dead beat before 

 the hounds. Time, 3 hours and a quarter, over a tremendous 

 deep country, had 17 couples of the dog pack. Rode a mare I 

 bought only yesterday of Thomas Harrison, which died from 

 the effects of the very severe day's work. 



Season Sept. 30TH, 1862, March 31ST, 1863. 



Oct. 6th, 1862. — Entercommon : Killed a fox which went 

 to ground in the river bank opposite Sockburn. In breaking up 

 the fox this day, a young hound, " Comet," broke his neck by 

 his resolute tugging at the fox. 



Nov. gth. — High Worsall Toll Bar : A very good day. 

 At the death I blooded Charlie Wailes. 



Dec. 4th. — Fighting Cocks : A magnificent find. Every 

 hound at him round the cover. Two old foxes went away but 

 could not get the hounds. Presently we discovered that a 

 whole litter of cubs were in the cover, and so the hounds ran 

 them, first one and then another, for 2 hours and 35 minutes 

 and all the time very hard, but as none of the hounds would 

 leave we called off and tried fresh ground. Found a splendid 

 fox in Mr. Grey's Plantation which broke away for Darlington, 

 then pointing for Haughton, and crossing Burdon Moor and 

 the railway went direct to Fighting Cocks cover. He did not 

 enter it but passed close by the north end. Presently, after 

 the fox was headed by some drainers, we had a check, soon 

 recovered the line again and ran him very prettily to Goosepool 

 Plantation, where a stupid fellow gave a false holloa and lost 

 us our fox after a clipping run of an hour. The first half 

 capital. A wet day, pretty good scenting. Had 19 couple of 

 the large pack out, all working admirably. 



