120 The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 



again hunted the country uncommonly well, 

 continuing operations up to the 25th April. 

 Hounds were out eighty-five days and killed 

 thirty brace of foxes. 



One run alone calls for mention, which 

 I give in the words of Mr. George Peirson, 

 who was a participator in what he terms the 

 first 'Map.*' 



February 19th. Hounds met at Busby 

 Stoop. '' It was a fine, bright morning and 

 there was a biggish field out. Hounds got 

 a good start from Bamlett's Whin, crossing 

 the Thirsk and Topcliffe Road, then up the 

 Cod Beck side to Dalton Whin. No time 

 was lost there, as the fox had skirted the 

 north end and gone straight on, and through 

 the Thirkleby Coverts, pointing for Upsall. 

 Hounds had not run hard till past Thirkleby, 

 but there the pace mended, as they were 

 evidently running up to their fox, and for 

 ten minutes or a quarter of an hour at the 

 foot of the hill, it looked as if they would run 

 into him at any minute. The fox had been 

 skirting the hill for a couple of miles as I 

 suppose he was too blown to face it. How- 

 ever at last he took a left-hand turn straight 

 up the wood, and there was nothing for it 

 but leading blown horses up a steep bridle 

 track. When three parts up, we could not 

 hear a sound, and on getting out into the 

 open at the top and looking down, we could 

 see those who had been left at the foot of 

 the hill, well on their way back to Thirkleby, 

 and going like old boots. Of course it was 



