COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 219 



On the line, ay, but not on one that he knew, 



That he'd puzzled out many a time ; 

 With a snort and a hiss straight on the train flew 



And poor "Singer" lies dead on the line ! 



No more o'er Fife pastures his tongue will he throw, 



Or respond to the sound of the horn ; 

 The Master is sorrowing sadly I know 



For the best hound that ever was born. 



" What, won't it do, ' Singer ' ? Now isn't that right ? 



Heu baick into covert, heu then," 

 And soon bursts the music, so cheery and bright, 



With a "Tally-ho, for-ard" again. 



With never a check, while "Singer" is leading, 



For the good hound is never " at fault " ; 

 He'd carry the scent through sheepfold and sheiling, 



And ne'er pause, though the others may halt. 



First in at the death ! " Whoo-op ! " He rolls the fox o'er 



Ah ! 'tis hard to believe he is dead ; 

 And sadly we'll hunt o'er plough, pasture and moor 



Where our "Singer" so often has led. 



In Elysian fields fair, those far hunting grounds, 



'Midst clear rivers, green valleys and rocks, 

 Who knows that there may not be horses and hounds, 



And perhaps just the ghost of a fox ? 



" Woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-op ! Now old man ! " 



Well, this one thing for certain I know, 

 That "Singer" is leading the first of the van 



If they sound there the glad "Tally-ho ! " 



I was elected a member of the Caledonian Hunt 

 in December, 1845, while quartered in Ireland, and 

 was next in succession to Sir Hugh Hume Campbell. 

 In 1888 I sent in my resignation, having been a 

 member for forty-three years. I received a letter 

 from Sir Thomas Erskine : 



