AND STIRLINGSHIRE HUNT 



and horses were got back to Wallhouse, where, 

 through the kindness of Colonel Gillon's coach- 

 man, his master being from home, fresh mounts 

 were obtained and the kennels reached about 

 twelve p.M.^ 



Atkinson, who in stature was broad rather than 

 tall, had a kindly face, a merry twinkle in his 

 eye, and a fine rich voice full of timbre. When 

 an ofiicial from the Inland Revenue office, doubt- 

 ing the accuracy of the number of hounds returned 

 for licence, called at Golfhall and asked him how 

 many there were in kennel, the twinkle in his 

 eye was probably brighter than usual as he 

 replied, " Ye can come in and count them for 

 yourself, but mind ye there be some savage beg- 

 gars among 'em, and they might take a piece 

 out of your breeches." The official departed, 

 wishing him good-day and saying he would take 

 his word for it that the return was correct. The 

 old man had a curious way of talking to himself 

 in the field, and, if excited, of repeating his 

 words a little. On one occasion when he had a 

 twisty fox to hunt, Mr Hugh Mosman well 

 remembers overhearing him mutter, *' Dirty brute, 

 dirty brute, won't let hounds eat ye if they 

 kill ye." 



Towards the end of the year 1886, Mr Menzies' 

 engagement to Miss S. W. Wilson, the eldest 

 daughter of Mr Arthur Wilson of Tranby Croft, 



1 'The Scotsman,' 7th April 1886, and Hunting Diary of Mr J. 

 S. Pitman, Edinburgh. 



269 



