EARLY HISTORY OF THE HUNT. 35 



' favourable for scent ; but taken altogether, I did not 

 ' dislike it ; and I thought that part of it which I had 

 ' ridden across on my road to the covert, was capable 

 ' of showing a fine run.' 



Hulby, of course, is Huby; and ' Nimrod,' who was 

 staying with Sir Bellingham Graham at Norton Conyers at 

 the time, would pass over some of the best of the Monday 

 country as he rode to the meet. Those who have carried 

 the horn in the York and Ainsty country will cordially 

 endorse the remarks about the bad scenting properties of 

 the loose soil about Aldwark. 



'Tuesday, November 21st. Met the York and Ainsty at 

 ' Pilmoor, ten miles from Norton Conyers, a common 

 ' situated between two very large coverts — a wild fox- 

 ' hunting place, but not a November fixture. In the 

 ' spring it must often afford runs. On this day our 

 ' hounds divided and made bad work of it. I got off 

 ' with the smaller lot ; but seeing that nothing could 

 ' be done, and that the fox was making back for the 

 ' coverts, I trotted gently on the line. We again found, and 

 ' had a hunting run through a horrible country, composed 

 ' of fields of about two acres each, enclosed with strong 

 ' blackthorn fences — • nice chance for horses' legs ! 

 ' Fortunately for my horse he cast a shoe, and I went 

 'home; but rather a singular adventure occurred. I 

 ' had ridden about two miles in quest of a blacksmith, 

 'when I met a person on foot (Mr. Dale, of Creakhill). 

 ' " I think I have got your shoe in my pocket," said 

 ' he. " Did you ride over the rails out of Pilmoor with 

 ' Mr. George Swann r" On telling him I did, he informed 

 ' me that my horse pulled off his shoe when he landed 

 ' on the other side. Had it not come off a fall would 

 ' have been the result.' 



It is curious to compare the description of this part 

 of the country with the former statement that 'the fences 

 are not difficult.' The face of the country has, of course, 

 altered considerably since 'Nimrod' jumped the rails at 



