1 62 HISTORY OF THE BEAM HAM MOOR HUNT. 



Mr. Fox makes no comment on this day's sport, but 

 Smith alludes to it as a hard day. The last day before the 

 renewed frost may as well be given, especially as it shows 

 how well hounds hunted under difficulties: — 



'January 14th. CoUingham Bar. Fox jumped up out of hedge- 

 ' row on Rigton Hill side. Away past Hetchell to Scarcroft 

 ' and Wike Whin, back to Scarcroft plantations, and ringing 

 ' about. Got up to a fox in Hetchell. Away to Thorner, 

 ' Norwood bottoms, nearly to Saw Woods, turned to 

 ' Bramham Park, Lindrick Hills to Westwoods, and after 

 ' rings, killed.' 



There was only a moderate scent, and the fallows were 

 quite hard with frost, and hounds had to work for their 

 fox, and thoroughly deserved him. On the following day the 

 storm which had been threatening for some time began in 

 earnest, and the York and Ainsty were driven home by snow. 

 Then for nearly three weeks did the Frost King prevail, 

 and it was not until February 3rd that hounds were able 

 to get out again. Then the morning was anything but a 

 promising one, and, to use Mr. Fox's words, it ' was thawed 

 ' sufficiently to go out.' Scent was bad, and sport moderate, 

 but they managed, by dint of perseverance, to kill a brace 

 of foxes. The next day scent was still bad, but after an hour 

 and fifty-five minutes' good hunting, from Clap Wood, they 

 killed a fox at Stockeld. Then came a day's frost and fog, 

 which effectually put a stop to all proceedings. They were 

 at work again on the following day, the 7th, when they met 

 at the Cock Bridge. On this day scent was good, and 

 perhaps foxes were ' fat and scant of breath.' At any rate, 

 they had a smashing day amongst them, accounting for three 

 and a half brace, a leash of which were killed. With two or 

 three of these foxes they had smart scurries, but there is 

 nothing about the day's sport which calls for minute record. 

 For a few days scent continued moderate, but still hounds 



