COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 139 



It was very steep, so I thought it would stop him, 

 but he went over the top and down the north side- 

 very steep and a high wall at the bottom. I felt 

 that he meant to have it and expected a howler. 

 Luckily there was a boggy place near the wall, and 

 he went into it up to his knees, bang against the 

 wall, cut an awful gash on his knee, and he had a 

 big knee all the rest of his life. 



27th November. A capital run ; met at Mon- 

 trave ; a wild rainy morning. Sir R. Anstruther, 

 Colonel Bertie Balfour, Reid, McCalmont, and 

 Ridley of the 7th Hussars, Captain Middleton, 

 Charles and Robert Christie, etc., out, and Colonel 

 Babington. 



Drew Clatto Den blank, went on to Kilmux. As 

 soon as hounds were in covert, they hit two lines, 

 part of the pack going back to Clatto ; the rest came 

 away very fast at the west end. Tom Hastings 

 went to stop the other lot. Our fox went straight 

 through the wood at Torloisk, down by the strip at 

 Milldeans Sawmill, and went out as if for Rameldrie. 

 After running a field or two he turned sharp to the 

 left. He then came down to the covert at Drummie, 

 which he passed without touching, and went over 

 the Star Moss into Lochmuir. He then crossed the 

 railway as if going to the Lomond Hill, but being 

 headed at the New Inn turnpike turned short to the 

 left, much to the disappointment of Captain Middle- 

 ton, who was well with them. The fox jumped the 

 park wall into Balbirnie, ran straight through the 

 covert in front of the house, past the stable and 



