2 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



Raydale is wonderfully adapted for such a 

 slaughter, for in the midst lies Semmerwater, the 

 first of the lakes, and one of the three natural 

 ones (besides tiny tarns) that exist in Yorkshire, 

 its companions being Malham Tarn in Craven 

 and Hornsea Mere in Holderness. Semmerwater 

 rejoices in a tradition of its own — how, on a wintry 

 evening, a tired and belated wayfarer stopped at 

 the prosperous village that then existed, and 

 vainly asked for food and shelter at each cottage 

 as he passed ; but, contrary to the rules of the very 

 real Yorkshire hospitality that even yet exists in 

 this wild district, the traveller was treated with 

 scorn, and bidden to proceed on his way. When 

 he had reached the last house he at length found 

 one to befriend him, and in the morning he 

 cursed that village, and, being an angel in dis- 

 guise, sent to find out if certain rumours that 

 had reached Heaven were true regarding the in- 

 habitants of the place, his prayers were quickly 

 heard, and a lake of considerable size rose up 

 and submerged the village and its inhabitants. 

 It is even averred that on a very still, calm day, 

 when the lake is low and the water absolutely 

 clear, the roof and chimneys of the houses may 

 yet be seen, far down in the pellucid depths. 



Beyond the south-western shore run two large 

 valleys on either side, that terminate at length in 

 a lofty mountain range, with a tongue of land 

 between them, and guarded on their outer flanks 

 by steep hillsides, along one of which — Wether 

 Fell — the Roman road from Middleham to Ingle- 

 ton winds its way. When once the stags had 

 entered these valleys it must have been easy to 

 hem them in with men guarding the lofty ridges, 

 whilst as they rushed over the intervening tongue 



