128 The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 



'Tis a short enough start. 



But a hill-fox's heart 

 Never quails when the peaks are in view ; 



Down the valley he dips, 



Through the grey river slips. 

 With his mask to the Moors so blue ! 



There's the crash of a rail 



As the crowd leaves the vale 

 And sweeps out on the heath of the hill. 



And it's slow they must creep 



Up the edge of the steep ; 

 But the bitches are galloping still I 



Over hill top and slope 



Still we stumble and grope 

 Through the tussocks where sheep drains are 

 Wind ; 



And the men that have led 



Are gone further ahead, 

 And the slow ones drop further behind. 



And the little hill-fox 



Threads his way through the rocks 

 Where the burn makes a lather of foam ; 



Does he laugh at us now 



As he climbs the last brow 

 That leads straight to the haven of home ? 



1890 — 91. On the 5th December there was 

 a good point and gallop. Found in Streatlam 

 Whin ; ran very fast up to Langton village, 

 crossed the river Swale, passed Kirkby 

 Fleetham, and leaving Fencote on the left, 

 went over the North Road to ground in 

 Goskin' s Wood. One hour and fifteen minutes. 



On the 18th February, after^^killing a fox 

 from Devonshire Wood, at Sharow, hounds 

 hit the line of another near Hutton Conyers, 



