A RECORD DAY 139 



to filter through, with the intention of shutting it when 

 the last had passed. A voice from one of the field 

 well in the rearguard was heard to call out to him — 

 '* Go on, go on, don't wait for me." 



** I think I'll wait and shut the gate." 



'' Oh, nevah mind waiting for me." 



Still the obdurate person stood at the gate. 



'* We nevah shut gates when hounds are out," 

 as he approached. 



'^Well, sir," said the gatekeeper, "as the turnips 

 are mine, and these sheep coming to us are mine, 



and I believe the gate is half mine and half 



the Yerl o' Whum's, I think I'll wait back and shut 

 it after I get you through, so bustle up, please." 



One morning, during a fast gallop over an estate 

 where the fences were well looked after, where 

 jumping places of stout larch rails were put up in 

 what wire there was, and where gaps were few and 

 instantly repaired when they existed, an amusing 

 dialogue took place. We crossed the march or 

 boundary fence, consisting of a fairly high bank with 

 a rail on the top, and as horses were rather blown, 

 most of us were glad to have it at a spot where 

 the fencers were at work renewing the rail, of which 

 they had taken down a rood or two. In the after- 

 noon the homeward way lay back over the same line 

 of country. The foreman fencer, the village joiner, 

 was just about to fix up the last bar, and one of 

 the field seeing this, rode up in advance. 



" Hi, Sandy, let's through there before you nail it up." 



No reply from Sandy except a roar to a young 

 apprentice to watch what he was doing, and a little 

 more vicious wielding of the hammer. 



