122 CDe Wenslcpdalc Rounds 



broad-acred Shire, to say a word regarding the 

 charm, the difficulty, and the peculiarities attend- 

 ant upon moorland hunting. As a preface to 

 this, let me say that in Wensleydale, as in most of 

 our other Yorkshire Dales, the sporting spirit 

 runs strong. They are born Nimrods ; and be it 

 a hare hunt, a fox chase, a summer's trot by the 

 Yore with the Northern Counties otter hounds, 

 or the digging for a badger, they are equally 

 keen, the very cry of hounds having a great 

 fascination for them ; whilst I have heard it said 

 that hounds and sheep are the only subjects on 

 which the Wensleydale Moorlander, who is cut off 

 from his fellows, can wax enthusiastic. Be this 

 as it may, the dalesman as a rule is much easier 

 to deal with than the low-country sportsman. He 

 puts fewer obstacles is the way of hounds ; as a 

 rule his claims for damage forwarded to the hunt 

 are infinitesimal, and he is willing to put himself 

 to a considerable amount of trouble and hard 

 work to aid and enjoy the sport. Summed up, 

 all this is merely saying he is a true sportsman, 

 and this has already been stated. 



