Col. Ansh^zitker Thomsons Mastership. 1 8 



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getting out on the far side ; so that those who had 

 constitutional objections to a bath at fresco, seldom 

 cared to accept his lead when they saw the gleam of 

 water ahead. His wonderfully quick eye for a country, 

 and his constant habit of taking advantage of every 

 good bit of ground, enabled him to save his horse in a 

 way that men of less bulk seldom think of. When thei^e 

 is time to draw rein he never rem_ains a moment in the 

 saddle.__ Dismounting quickly, he gives his horse all the 

 relief possible, however brief the breathing-space may 

 be. Few know how much is gained by a simple act of 

 this kind, and very few of those who do know ever 

 practise it. 



For one winter after leaving Northamptonshire, 1870, 

 Mr. Anstruther Thomson hunted the Atherstone, but 

 the following season he was obliged to pass at Torquay, 

 on account of the illness of his eldest son. In 1872 he 

 again undertook the management of the Fife Hounds, 

 and has continued to hunt them from that time to the 

 present, this being the fortieth year he has occupied the 

 position of a Master of Fox-hounds. Just at the close 

 of Mr. Thomson's career with the Pytchley, an event 

 occurred in the hunting-field of Yorkshire unparalleled 

 in its tragical circumstances, and which cast a gloom 

 throughout the breadth and length of the land. 



The York and Ainsty hounds, whilst running between 

 Copgrove and Newby Hall, crossed the River Ure, which 

 was greatly swollen after the recent heavy rains. Several 

 of the field attempted the ford, which was some distance 

 up the stream ; but Sir Charles Slingsby and others made 

 for the ferry, which is just opposite the Hall, and sig- 

 nalled for the boat to be sent across. The river was 



