CHAPTER II. 



The Braes of Derwent Country. 



During the greater part of Mr. Rogerson's master sJiip of the 

 North Durham — since 1896, to be exacti — Mr. Lewis 

 Priestman hsis been IMaster of the Braea of Derwent 

 hounds, which, as has: been explained, join the North 

 Durham on its northern boundary. Time was when the 

 two hunt.3 were very separate and distinct affairsi, each 

 having its own field, and neither going very frequently 

 over its own border. But during the last twenty years there 

 has been a gradual but steady increase of general interest 

 between the two hunts, caused by members of each hunt 

 hunting constantly with the other. The two establishments 

 are of course quite distinct, and the boundaries of the two 

 hunts well defined ; but as many as two-thirds of the North 

 Durham field are very regular in their attendance at the 

 Saturday meets of the Braes of Derw^ent, and the Master and 

 other members of the last-mentioned pack rarely miss a North 

 Durham Monday. It is only when the North Durham are on 

 the south side of the Wear or the Braes of Derwent in their 

 Blaydon country that the field is not composed of people living 

 in either country, and, as a matter of fact, most of the hunting 

 people between the Wear and the Tyne are now members of 

 both hunts. The two Masters have been friends from boy- 

 hood, and motor-cars and increased train services have so 

 facilitated matters that it is quite simple to reach meets of 

 hoimds that were a generation ago almost impossible. Then, 

 again, either pack runs moi'e frequently into the other's 

 country than was formerly the case ; and this is perhaps rather 

 difficult to understand, but is nevertheless a fact. I can 

 remember a season in which I never missed a Monday with 

 the North Durham, and never saw them over their northern 

 boimdary, and I can remember another, about the same 

 period of time, in which they ran once to the Pont from 

 Gladdow. More recently I have seen the Braes of Derwent 



