First Whipper-in 211 



fence by Sands Hall, and took no further part in the pro- 

 ceedings. Dick, more fortunate than his brothers, had a 

 good little brown mare on short legs called " Sledmere," 

 bred by Sir Tatton Sykes, with which he won a little 

 farmer's race at some of the meetings. She was a clinking 

 Httle huntress over a country. 



I must not neglect Mr. " Willie " Walker of Copelaw, a 

 prince of fox preservers, and never known to send in a 

 poultry bill. He didn't hunt except on foot, but if Copelaw 

 (his covert) was drawn blank his face was like a person 

 who had taken a dose of salts ! He liked to be to the front 

 with his foxhound puppy, which accompanied him every- 

 where, especially to church where he would hide him under 

 the pew seat sometimes at Aycliffe. He was a champion 

 ploughman in his day, and still, I hear, prides himself as 

 much as ever on being a champion fox preserver. Long 

 may he continue so. I remember as if it was to-day that 

 he took a prominent part in a good young African donkey 

 hunt. It happened in this way : " Mr. Bronk," which 

 belonged to a gentleman in the district, was running out 

 one autumn day in Willie Walker's fields. We were riding 

 through the field exercising the hounds just previous to 

 commencing cub-hunting, and " Mr. Bronk," who was a 

 black beast, seeing an unusual sight, blew his horn both loud 

 and shrill, which excited a sporting little fox-terrier we had 

 with us (and which was, I believe, one of Mr. John Straker's 

 game breed, and given by him to Claxon). Off went " Crab" 

 after the " moke," who was a smart httle chap, and could 

 gallop when terrified, throwing his tongue for all he was 

 worth, which gave us a short exciting chase for a few 

 minutes, as the young un-entered hounds joined in the fun, 

 and ran him to ground in Willie Walker's arms before we 



