AND STIRLINGSHIRE HUNT 



run, guided Atkinson and his hounds back over 

 the hills to Stow.^ 



Owing to the frost of the two previous days, 

 it seemed doubtful whether it would be possible 

 to hunt at Crookston on the 24th of November 

 1874, but those who attended the fixture did not 

 regret having done so, for hounds ran well for 

 two hours, and although the distance traversed 

 is not recorded, the point could hardly have been 

 less than ten miles. Finding in Mr Borthwick's 

 young covert, hounds went away to Hoppringle, 

 but doubling back, ran through Crookston and by 

 Glints hill to Brotherstone. Then turning north 

 over Soutra hill, they ran on as if for Blackshiels 

 high covert, but not entering it, bore away towards 

 Cakemuir Gastle, which they passed on their left, 

 and continued by Frosty Neb, over Saughland and 

 Grichton Mains to the village of Pathhead. There 

 the fox was so hard pressed that he took refuge 

 on the roof of one of the houses, but being dis- 

 lodged, was pursued to the banks of the Tyne, 

 where he was rolled over in the open.^ 



In snow and sleet a goodly number of sportsmen 

 met hounds at Westwood on the 3rd of February 

 1876. The previous night had been one of high 

 wind and pelting rain, and it was therefore not 

 surprising that several of Gaptain Steuart's coverts 

 were drawn blank. But neither did this nor a con- 



1 'Edinburgh Courant,' 18th March 1874. 



2 Ibid., 27th November 1874. 



239 



