Huntmg Sketches 253 



really have been a good chap, and you shall be the first 

 man I pay. Come and have a drink for luck." Too 

 confiding, the bookmaker went with him into the refresh- 

 ment tent, and Wilkinson then said, " What is it to be, old 

 man — champagne, of course, eh ? " Champagne was 

 decided upon, and just as the bookmaker was raising his 

 glass to his lips, Wilkinson exclaimed, " Oh, by Jove, I 

 have left my purse at the carriage. I must just run over 

 and fetch it to pay for the wine. Don't go, I'll be back 

 in a minute." The minutes followed each other quickly, 

 but no signs of Wilkinson appeared, and the bookmaker 

 finally had to pay for the champagne for both. As for 

 being the first man whose debts were to be paid, it might 

 have been quite true that he would have been, if 

 Wilkinson had ever settled with any one at all, but, as he 

 never commenced to do so, the debt remained in statu qiio 

 for ever. 



I began hunting on a pony in the spring of 1859, 

 when the York and Ainsty met at Providence Green under 

 Sir C. Slingsby, who was both master and huntsman. A 

 very excellent run, too, we had on my opening day, finding 

 a fox at once in Cattal Springs, and running him to the 

 banks of the Ure opposite Newby Hall, and finally losing 

 him amongst the gardens at Eipon. Sir Charles would 

 probably have killed him, but just when the hounds were 

 getting close to the fox, he crossed the line, and a train 

 coming by at the time, caused the pack to be stopped till 

 it had passed, so the fox escaped. 



No one could have begun hunting under better auspices, 

 for the neighbouring pack was the Bramham Moor, Mr. 

 George Lane Fox being the master, and Charles Treadwell 

 the huntsman, each very celebrated as being perfect 



