COLONEL FAIRFAX'S MASTERSHIP. 



159 



soon as they jjot to work again they were bothered by frost 

 and snow, and it was not till the end of the year that there 

 was anything great to record. Then came two good days 

 indeed : — 



' Monda}^ December 27th. Skelton. Fine hunting day, but 

 ' scent not so good as expected. Crowds of foot people. 

 ' Drew Skelton small coverts blank, on to New Parks. 

 ' Found, away to Huby, turned to his right and pointed 

 ' for Moorlands, came round by beck to New Parks 

 ' again, through Dodholme, to ground in a rabbit hole 

 ' on Mr. Layton's land. One hour. Dug him out. Bitches 

 ' worked well. Went on to Court House, found, but 

 ' killed him in covert. Overton full of fo.xes, but it was 

 ' getting late, so we did no more. Good day for hounds, 

 'just put the pack in good heart, getting blood after so 

 ' many hard days without it. Horses carried us well.' 



' Tuesday, December 28th. Acaster. Did not find in Stub 

 'Wood, but a fox was holloaed just outside. He went 

 ' away as if for Nun Appleton, but turned to his right 

 ' towards Appleton, was headed at the common, turned 

 ' to Brocket Hagg, through it, away towards Copmanthorpe, 

 ' turned to the left to railway crossing near Colton Hagg, 

 ' did not cross, went parallel with line by Colton Brecks, 

 ' on to Appleton Mill, very fast. Here there was a check 

 ' in road. Forester took line up road. Two hares had 

 'just gone that way, the old hounds did not seem to 

 ' like it. Fox had turned short to right behind us, got 

 ' on to him, hunted him to Kilby, owing to sheep, etc., 

 ' we lost all trace. Went to New Wood on spec of 

 ' getting up to him, got on to him at once, away by 

 ' Wright's house, over park, through Bridge plantation, 

 ' raced along Ings to Scotland Wood, and away to Bolton 

 ' station. One hour, forty minutes. Got D. Oliver's 

 ' gardener's dog, who bolted him, so the hounds got him 

 ' after a deal of work. Went to Steeton, found at once, 

 ' away by Harper's nearly to Colton House, turned to 

 ' the left and ran to ground at cottages. Street Houses. 

 ' Fifteen minutes, good scent, good sport. Best scent of 

 ' this year. Romper worked well.' 



