Col. Anst7^zither Jhomson^s Mastership. 185 



York ofl&cers. Mr. White got ashore by means of the 

 ferry-chain^ and others were rescued from the banks. 

 When all was over, and the roll was called, six were 

 wanting ; namely, Sir Charles Slingsby, Bart., of Scriven 

 Park ; Mr. E. Lloyd, of Lingcroft, near York ; Mr. E. 

 Robinson ; William Ovis (first Whip) ; and the two gar- 

 deners at ISTewby Hall, the ferrymen. Such were some 

 of the incidents of a catastrophe, the memory of which 

 still hangs like a heavy cloud over tbe entire district in 

 which the terrible tragedy was enacted. 



Among the countless canine incidents which have 

 crossed the path of Mr. Anstruther Thomson, not the 

 least amusing must have been one which occurred in com- 

 pany with the present writer. Driving together near 

 BuxtOD, they were encountered by the length and breadth 

 of so unsavoury an odour as only to be attributed to 

 horse-flesh slightly tainted. '^ Hounds, by Jove,'^ ex- 

 claimed the ex-M.F.H. " Let us get out and bave a look.'^ 

 No sooner said than done. Crossing an orchard, among 

 the boughs of which were hung the joints which had so 

 robbed the circumambient air of its natural sweetness, a 

 kennel was soon espied. 



Addressing a light, neat-looking man who was digging 

 in his garden close to the kennel, he was asked whether 

 we could be permitted to see the hounds ? *' Certainly, 

 gentlemen," was the reply in rich Irish brogue. " I^m 

 the Huntsman, and will show you them with pleasure.^' 

 Laying down his spade and putting on his coat, he opened 

 the kennel-door, and let out about as miscellaneous a 

 looking lot of dwarf foxhounds as might be found in a 

 long day's march. " You will be pleased to know,'' said 

 I, " that you are showing your pack to the best judge 



