First Whipper-in. 135 



sturdy hound, a gross, hard feeder, and a son of the 

 " Brocklesby Ranger " and brother to " Landlord," also a 

 nailer ; poor fellow, he lost an eye in the east country ; we 

 missed him one day in the neighbourhood of Greatham, and 

 he came back next day with one eye blinded, and we always 

 thought that some ill-disposed person had thrown some 

 liquid of a burning nature at him ; but he might have done 

 it accidentally, amongst some chemicals. 



Some of Joe Rutter's songs, it may be added, were a 

 trifle rough, and wouldn't stand much investigation, but were 

 very appropriate for the gathering of earth-stoppers, who 

 liked something lively. Joe always introduced the puppy he 

 walked into his songs and musical verses, and, indeed, he 

 did a bit of composing on his own — the deeds of " Lincoln," 

 whelped in 1882, and " Banker," 1883, being his favourite 

 topic. He always maintained that if he had a good fox- 

 hound puppy he never lost any poultry by foxes, whilst he 

 kept the foxes in good condition. When still a puppy 

 " Banker " by " Fairplay," out of " Blameless," always joined 

 in the chase with us when passing Hangthorn, and went on 

 with us until we gave up for the day, when he used to 

 hark back home as fast as he could go to introduce the 

 news to his master Joe. Another wonderful puppy was 

 " Druid " by " Artist," out of " Dagmar." " Artist " was a 

 son of the Brocklesby " Ambrose." " Druid " was walked 

 at Bishopton by Mr. John Gent, one of the old sort, and a 

 rare good puppy walker. I found an account of the puppy's 

 doings in an old diary, and think it is taken from a local 

 newspaper. 



Exploits of a Foxhound Puppy. — On Friday last, when 

 the South Durham Hounds met at Bishopton,* a puppy " at 



• This happened on January 23rd, 1883, and the splendid day's sport is referred to in 

 Chapter IV. 



