Past and Present 31 



tliem out of the nets alive. They squealed, 

 plunged, and scratched so badly. 



Apropos of the above, I recollect hearing of 

 the following anecdote : — 



Squire Pratt, when out hunting in 1776, with 

 some of his party, felt hungry, and called at a 

 little farmhouse in Abbotside for something to 

 eat. The good dame of the house told them it 

 was baking day, and she only had some haver 

 cakes and blue milk cheese. Mr. Pratt asked her 

 to bring it out, when they found the cheese so 

 good that the Squire bought the remainder, and 

 another like it to take home. After dinner in the 

 evening the cheese was produced and pronounced 

 tough and uneatable. "Ah!" said the Squire, 

 "we've lost our hunting appetites." 



Thornton Scar was a favourite meet for 

 questing up to hares. Hounds mostly took a 

 quest in the meadow^s and pastures adjoining the 

 road, and by degrees, at quite a slow walking 

 pace, but with no end of patience, and lots of 

 music, the hounds invariably worked it out until 

 found on the moor. 



