214 SPORTING STORIES 



the Borders as much for his hospitality as for his love of 

 sport, and consequently every Edie Ochiltree and Madge 

 Wildfire who wandered among those moors knew where a 

 night's lodgings and plenty of porridge and milk could be 

 had. It was well known that he asked every tramp his 

 name, and all invariably answered " Campbell " ; and 

 although the clan of Argyle must have seemed to him to 

 be ever increasing in numbers, he put no more questions. 

 " Campbell " was the key to his heart, and they repaid 

 his kindness by never stealing from him. One of the 

 oldest and worst "Johnnie Fa'as" either in Nithsdale or 

 Teviotdale was heard to say to his little son behind a 

 hedge, " Nab (steal) a' ye can, laddie, but no' at Dalgig 

 for yer life." 



Once, two couples who had enjoyed the Laird's hospitality 

 from Saturday till Monday occupied their leisure in the 

 barn by effecting an exchange of wives — a proceeding bad 

 enough in the Laird's eyes at any time, but when introduced 

 as a Sabbath ceremony an unpardonable offence. In fact, 

 Dalgig was so incensed that for a long time he refused to 

 harbour any beggars except those belonging to that part of 

 the country. 



Previous to taking to coursing, curling and draughts had 

 been his chief amusements, and he kept up the ice game for 

 fully fifty years, driving to Sanquhar (17 miles) to enjoy 

 the pastime ; and although he never won " the picture," he 

 held the New Cumnock Challenge Medal for years. 



A lady, too, who deserves to be immortalised in the 

 annals of the leash, was Miss Richards, of Compton 

 Beauchamp, Berkshire. She possessed considerable 

 personal charms and a large property, but so strong- 

 minded was she that she choked off all intending suitors 

 with the curt announcement that she meant to live and die 

 a maid. Her enthusiasm for coursing was extraordinary. 

 Every day during the coursing season this indefatigable 

 sportswoman was driven in her coach to the downs, where, 

 springing out on her native turf, she coursed on foot for 

 the rest of the morning, sometimes walking a distance of 

 25 miles ere, to use the words of an irreverent scribe, "she 

 re-embarked on board of the tub of state steered by 



