384 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



priety of his feeling ; and after relating an anecdote or two of his 

 exploits, and answering some questions which were put to him, he made 

 his bow and retired, although not until he had been heartily shaken by the 

 hand, both by Lord Fife, by the general, and by Lord Kintore as well. 



Having spoken of old servants and in the sporting line, I must not 

 omit the mention of one who is greatly entitled to my notice, being the 

 oldest huntsman in Scotland. This is John Craick (commonly pro- 

 nounced Crack), who hunted hounds in the Turriff country, almost ever 

 since it was hunted at all ; and for several seasons for the late Duke of 

 Gordon, when Marquis of Huntley. Previously to my arrival in Scot- 

 land, indeed, I was told that I must see John Craick ; and Lord Kintore 

 took care that I should see him, by sending to invite him to Cask. 



About an hour after dinner then, on one of the days I passed at Gask, 

 and in the presence I believe of only Lord Kintore, Captain Barclay, 

 Mr. Dingwall, and myself, John was ushered into the room, and seated 

 by my side. His dress was just what it should have been— a red coat, a 

 striped waistcoat, cord breeches and gaiters, and a white cravat, tied 

 after the old fashion in a double knot, and confined to his breast with a 

 shirt-pin, no bow being allowed in the strictness of this costume. 

 Neither must the lower button of the waistcoat be in the button hole, 

 to render the toilette complete. But now for John Craick himself. I 

 could soon perceive that he was not a Scotchman, but from a bordering 

 county, and I think by the burr on his tongue, he claims either Cumber- 

 land or Yorkshire, his early history having escaped me. His figure was 

 just what it should have been, to ride well over a country ; and he had 

 an eye in his head which looked as if Time could not greatly dim it — 

 although I should say, that nearly eighty summers had rolled over his head 



