The Cleveland, 383 



present master, lias now held office for four. So 

 mucli for the antecedents of tlie Hunt. The pack 

 itself has steadily improved since its status has become 

 established — the friendly assistance of Lord Zetland 

 (who has done so much in the way of bringing the 

 best blood of the Midlands to blend with the northern 

 strains) having been especially valuable in maintaining 

 an excellent working pack at Redcar. 



The great rolling hills of north-eastern Yorkshire 

 dip to sea level, at some points only on reaching the 

 coast line, at others a few miles short of it — some- 

 times abruptly, sometimes by easy gradient. And it 

 is at the foot and on the slopes of these hills that 

 the Cleveland country lies. The strip of level plain 

 between hill and shore, on the north, is sadly 

 narrowed by the busy presence of the smelting 

 furnaces, which cease neither day nor night from 

 turning the ironstone of the adjacent hillsides into- 

 metal and money. Only a comparatively few years 

 ago foxes could be hunted in the immediate precincts 

 of Middlesboro'. Now, a broad chain of furnaces, 

 and an almost continuous town of workmen, cover 

 the riverside from Stockton to Redcar ; wagonways 

 run into the heart of the country ; and steam is to he 

 seen issuing from mining works at intervals along the 

 whole line of hills adjacent. Yet even now room is 

 found for a frequent scurry across the flat to the 

 woods and higher ground of Wilton, Kirkleatham,, 

 and Upleatham ; and the utmost is made of this 

 pretty but limited area, by means of artificial gorses 

 and earths to attract foxes from the hills. The 

 whins of Lazenby, West Coatham, Megget Lane, 



