The Bedale. 121 



The Bedale, besides having the dales and forests of 

 Westmoreland to back it up on the west, has the 

 Hambledon Hills facing it on the east. Thus a 

 channel is formed through which the rainfall of the 

 upper ground rushes southward in several streams. 

 All the lower country is in this way cut up and in 

 some degree marred by the confluent rivers — no less 

 than three of which (in addition to the Cod along its 

 margin) run down the Bedale vale_, to form the Ouse 

 of the York-and-Ainsty. These three are the Wisk, 

 the Swale, and the Yore. The first-named is just 

 jumpable in places. But the other two are not ; and 

 the Swale running through the length of the country, 

 has in a distance of twenty miles only three bridges, 

 besides that of the railway — which is not available 

 for hunting purposes. Foxes appear to swim the 

 rivers like otters, and to make their points quite 

 irrespective of the opposing streams. Hounds of 

 course make no inquiry as to the propinquity of a 

 bridge : and are generally over before it would be 

 possible to stop them — even if desired. And thus, 

 in the case of the Swale^ the field is often left on one 

 side, while fox and hounds go on beyond with the fun 

 to themselves. Occasionally it has been a matter of 

 difficulty for even the staff to recover the line of 

 pursuit : and not very long ago the pack crossed the 

 boundary and went a full hour^s run into the York 

 Country before they could be reached. 



A curious old Roman Road, the Leeming Lane, also 

 cuts through the country from north to south — 

 Catterick Bridge to Borough Bridge — nearly side by 

 side with the Swale. It turns neither right nor left. 



