NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 163 



a mile of the cover, Williamson turned out of the road into the fields 

 parallel to it, for the purpose of avoiding thorns with which it was 

 strewed, to the great annoyance of the hounds, as they found their way 

 into their feet. Perceiving Frank CoUison, who was in the rear of them, 

 on a fine long-tailed horse, which threw up his heels and squealed after 

 he leaped a fence, I observed to Mr. Callander—" What a slapping four- 

 year-old colt old Frank has got under him this morning 1 " Now what 

 did this four-year-old colt prove to be, but old Alphabet, in his nine- 

 teenth year ! I was sorry, however, to learn before I quitted Scotland, 

 that there were symptoms of the old horse failing — at all events doubts 

 were entertained whether he would carry the duke another season, 

 and for this reason :— towards the end of a severe day, he, for the first 

 time in his life— at least he was never given to do so— took to refusing 

 his fences, which in old hunters is an almost unerring sign of ''cutting 

 it " altogether. However, go when he may, he owes his noble master 

 nothing, as he must have given him many a delightful ride. 



Wednesday 26th. Met the duke's hounds at Kelso-bridge, and 

 trotted away to Lempitlan, and found in a very strong whin cover. Here 

 I had an opportunity of seeing this celebrated pack give the lie to the 

 assertion that they are shy of facing thick gorse. Our fox on this day 

 indeed appeared resolved to put them to the proof, for he never broke at 

 all, but died at the end of an hour, during which time almost every 

 hound was at work. I appeal to all who were present if they could 

 expect or desire to see this species of fox-hunting better or more effec- 

 tually performed ; nor was there a finer or stronger fox than the hunted 

 one ever seen ; and his never attempting to break, showed the strength 



of the cover. 



Y 2 



