80 The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 



1871—72. This season Mr. Booth hunted 

 the hounds himself, having as his first whipper- 

 in and kennel huntsman, Alfred Thatcher 

 (the father of Arthur Thatcher, who for many 

 seasons showed such good sport with the 

 Cottesmore, and is now with Mr. Fernie's 

 hounds), and H. Harrison as second whipper- 

 in. 



One who knew him well, thus writes of Mr. 

 Booth as a huntsman. 



" He was wonderfully in sympathy with his 

 hounds, and by this, got them to persevere 

 most patiently on a cold scent. 



He used to go away very quick from covert ; 

 no waiting for laggards, believing that the 

 first ten minutes' real burst kills your fox ; 

 and that from four to six couples of hounds 

 was enough for this."* 



He believed in the first principles of fox- 

 hunting ; that hounds, horses, servants, &c., 

 are kept to kill the fox, so he never gave 

 them more chances than he could help, 

 knowing perfectly well that a fox has scores 

 of dodges by which he can escape, of which 

 most huntsmen know little. 



On going to draw Thornhills Whin for the 

 first time this season, Mr. Booth was horrified 

 to find that two rides had been cut in it — 

 one from east to west, one from north to 



* Opinions differ. Some say that a keen hound will seldom be left 

 twice, if given a fair chance of getting away with the body. 

 Others say, that being left, makes dog hounds especially, 

 jealous, and causes them to run cunning. I should draft those 

 which are often left. (Editor). 



