224 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



1 have yet seen, much less over his, which is stvongly fenced and deep. 



If, however — as I said of Stephen Goodhall, when he hunted Sir Thomas 



Mostyn's pack — Scott could hover over his hounds in a balloon, or fly 



through the air like Pacolet on his wooden horse, no one would doubt 



the full value of his directing hand. It is hardly fair to pronounce an 



opinion on the merits of a huntsman, principally from common report ; 



but the frequent mention I heard made of the one I have been speaking 



of, in part removes this objection. Scott's long experience, and general 



knowledge of hounds and hunting, make him often quoted in Scotland 



as authority; and, moreover, he has been the theme of many a good 



joke. In short — he is what is called a character, as the following 



anecdotes will show. Being some distance behind his hounds one day 



when they were running very hard, Mr. Maxwell (the son of his first 



master, Sir William) passed him, with the hope of being able to catch 



them. " It wont do, sir," holloas Scott to him ; " 'tis no use your 



haggrivating your horse tn that manner ; if you was on a heagle you 



would not catch 'em." On another occasion he missed some hounds 



after a long run in a wild country, and they were eventually lost. On 



some one condoling with him upon what most huntsmen would consider 



rather a serious bereavement, Scott replied with a smile, " Oh — it's 



nought worth thinking about; it is a poor concarn that cant afford to 



lose a hound or two^ ^ Here is philosophy for you, reader; " rough 



clad" if you like; but there is nothing like taking things coolly in this 



world. As Scott's List, however, only gives a sum total of thirty-five 



couples of working hounds, the concarn cannot afford many such trifling 



losses in the year. 



* This reminds me of a story I heard of " Robert" somebody, formerly huntsman 

 to the Northumberland hounds. A runaway horse dashed with his rider among the 

 pack — " That's right, sir !" exclaimed Robert, " that's right — ride among em ! kill 

 a hound or two ! we've plenty mair (more) at home !" 



