24 The Lanarkshire and Renfrezvshire Hunt. 



I have seen some funny things happen in the desire to get blood, and 

 as a certain incident occurred so many years ago I may not be betraying 

 confidences when I relate what was kept as a secret for a long time. The 

 hounds had entered Wraes in quest of a fox, and a few of them immediately 

 " chopped " one close to where the second whip was posted. Simultane- 

 ously another was viewed away with the main body of the pack in pursuit, 

 a good run being soon in progress. The second whip, who was a particu- 

 larly cute and daring little fellow — an opportunist in his own particular 

 line — picked up the carcase of the fox, and, carrying it on his saddle, he 

 took care to keep out of everyone's way as he manoeuvred around the 

 country keeping a look out as to where hounds were running. A big stretch 

 of country had been galloped over by followers, and as hounds were 

 approaching Knockmountain the whip slipped on ahead of them. Within 

 the woodland the carcase was dropped and a ringing " Who-whoop ! ' : 

 resounded o'er the valley. Of course everybody was highly satisfied at 

 the fitting termination of a good run, and a " cap " for the hunt staff which 

 was common in those days was duly taken. There was only one — an old 

 and astute member of the Hunt (Mr. Kidston) — who was a trifle suspicious. 

 He afterwards asked the huntsman for the truth about the matter, and he 

 got it. The whip concerned in this escapade was Bert Thatcher, the 

 present huntsman of the Zetland Hounds. 



On 1 2th March there was the usual big company at Finlaystone, and a 

 brilliant run was afterwards had from Knockmountain. The course taken 

 was over Barscube Hill by Gleddoch to West Ferry, thence by Castlehill and 

 Barmore, to kill in the open just above Park Erskine Glen. This was not 

 the only sport of that day, as from Craig Marloch hounds hunted another 

 by Knockmountain down to Finlaystone, leaving which they had only a 

 stale line back by Knockmountain to Dr. Brown's coverts, where they again 

 chimed in merrily to run by Auchinbothie, Bardrainy, Brodie's Wood, 

 and Broadfield, back to Finlaystone. They then carried on over Barscube 

 Hill, where scent failed at the end of a really good day. There was nothing 

 further in the way of sport during the latter stages of this season that calls 

 for special notice, but the open nature of the weather was shown by the 

 fact that fifty-one of the fifty-five fixtures arranged were fulfilled. A most 

 interesting and gay function took place in St. Enoch Hotel, Glasgow, 

 on 1 8th April, when about seventy of the leading supporters of the Hunt 



