NORTHERN COUNTRIES iii 



With Lord Zetland's hounds on Thursday were, besides 

 Mr. Cradock (the founder and former Master of the pack) : 

 Mr. and Mrs. C. Hunter, Captain Towers Clarke, (late 

 Master of the West Meath) and Mrs. Clarke, Mr. and 

 Mrs. H. Straker, Mr. and Mrs. C. Straker, Captain and 

 Mrs. Williamson, Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Press, Miss Pease, 

 Miss Neasham, Captain S. Cradock, Mr. Wilson-Todd 

 (Master of the Bedale) and his huntsman, Holland, 

 Mr. D. Lascelles, Mr. Scarth, &c. &c. 



I have onh' to add that it delighted me to see 

 Champion hunting, and riding to, his hounds. 



The Braes of Derwent 



My newest experience of all (unless it was the catching 

 a salmon) lay in a day with the Braes of Derwent — a 

 pack kept by Colonel Cowen to hunt the rough highlands 

 and woodlands south of the Tyne. The hounds — if not 

 a show pack — are capable enough ; while as for the 

 huntsman, Siddle Dixon, it is a treat to hear him rousing 

 the echoes of the woods and denes. On Saturday there 

 happened to be no scent whatever, and hounds could not 

 own a fox only two minutes before them. But I am told 

 by many and trustworthy, that Dixon can hunt a wood- 

 land fox to death in exceptional form. His method with 

 I hounds in these great coverts is certainly bright and 

 encouraging. I am not fond of a cheerless huntsman 

 ; anywhere ; no more are hounds. I hate a dullard in a 

 I big woodland, and so do they ; as they will soon evince 

 by dawdling and shirking work, especially when drawing 

 for a fox or hunting him on a cold scent. A hound dislikes 

 nothing so much as being left out in the cold when the 

 fun is taking place. He will never work freely, unless 

 naturally independent and wilful, if he has no clue to the 

 whereabouts of huntsman and pack, or if he is not sure 

 that he will be called into action directly game is afoot. 



In the forest depths which engulfed Mr Jorrocks there 

 is especially need that hounds should be kept together and 

 in touch of their huntsman. I wish I could have seen a 

 run with them — and come out alive. But, as I have said. 



