First Whippcr-in. 209 



behind him past Nunstainton and Sedgefield Station, where 

 he crossed the Clarence railway. The Master and Mr. 

 Briggs jumped in and out of the line, and had by far the 

 best of the gallop over the cream of the Sedgefield country, 

 leaving Sands Hall and the Racecourse on the left, and 

 pointing straight for the Wynyard woods, reached in forty 

 minutes ; luckily, for some reason, the fox now turned sharp 

 back, and stuck almost to the identical line he had come, 

 by Layton Lings, Watts' moor. Bog Hall, Stillington moors, 

 Morden south side, Gibson's farm (where a colley seized 

 him), and Harpington lane, where Gillson viewed him, 

 eventually getting to ground just in front of hounds near 

 Bradbury Village, after a fine run of over two hours. 

 Poor " Bailiff," who had never gone in more brilliant style 

 all through the gallop, broke down near the end of it, on 

 the farm of Mr Graham of Morden, who was attracted to 

 the spot by Sir William's language, f and has not yet 

 forgotten the incident, and says that he will never forget it 

 if he lives to be as old as Methusaleh. 



f Perhaps the most graphic description of the breakdown is conveyed by Sir William's own 

 characteristic words to me recently, which are re-produced verbatim : — " I did not see the 

 finish because my horse ' Bailiff' broke down near Sands, and my curses were heard in 

 Bradbury and Morden Villages, and the grass has never grown in the field since ; I never 

 rode ' Bailiff' again, and he carried me seven seasons without a fall." The fox was found 

 dead in Bradbury wood next day, with a bite in his shoulder. 



