114 NA TUBE AND WOODCRAFT. 



height; and, although terribly bruised, and 

 almost scalped, he broke no bones, and recovered 

 from the shock. In falling, he struck against 

 the rocks several times ; but the story goes that, 

 on coming to the ground, he sprang at once to 

 his knees, and cried, " Lads, t' fox is gane oot 

 at t'hee end ; lig t' dogs on " — then fell down 

 insensible. The place has since borne the name 

 of " Dixon's Three Jumps." 



Of all pastimes of the northern yeomen, that 

 of hunting is the most popular. Most of the 

 ballads sung upon festive occasions have for 

 their subject-matter some " Bet Bouncer," with 

 cheeks " broad and red as a parson's cushion," 

 or memorable fox-chase. Wordsworth asserted 

 that in his time, when the hounds were 

 out on Helvellyn, not a soul in the village 

 would stay for want of leisure to enjoy the 

 sport. And I know of my own frequent know- 

 ledge that this applies to the daleswomen as 

 well as the men. Hunting with Harriers or 

 Fox-hounds is equally popular, though from the 

 nature of the ground the former has most female 

 followers. So strongly did this love of sport 

 exist among the yeomen of the last century, 

 that it is even asserted they went hunting 



