Past ana Present. 109 



The fox had a most narrow escape, as, from 

 the twistings and doublings in the snow tracks, it 

 must have been a very narrow squeak for his hfe. 



The hounds had all left when we got there. 

 We afterwards walked over Whitfield, following 

 some of the hounds' tracks to Askrigg, where I 

 called and begged some oatcake and a cu]p of tea 

 at old Jeffry Jack's. I had long before given my 

 dinner to Raine. He fell very faint on Swaledale 

 Edge, and of course, soon after, I, not having 

 anything left, also felt most hungry. As hounds 

 ran, it must have been a good twelve miles. 



Jeffry Jack was a noted character. In his 

 palmy days he used to play the bassoon in 

 Askrigg Church ; and. Oh ! the sounds he pro- 

 duced were too cruel for words. Jack was also 

 a bit of a fisherman, but his flies and tackle 

 were much on a par with his music. 



