2-NRLF J1MES ARMSTRONG CALIFORNIA er " WJfflY BLOSSOMS :" WITH A BRIFF TREATISE ON FISHING WITH THE FLY, WORM, MINNOW, AND ROE ; 3Ltfe, antr Jax ant< tter BY EIDSDALE, BELLTNGHAM. [[COPYBIGHT.] SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED. Price 2s. 6 the fly- fisher frequeuti og our larger streams. During these months, however, he will find a killing lure in the worm. ON FISHING WITH THE WORM FOR TROUT. Of the various lures for trout, the worm un- questionably ranks among the foremost. The season for worm-fishing seldom commences until the latter end of May, or beginning of June, when the main streams and their tributaries are, in ordinary seasons, considerably reduced. June and July, added to the latter end of May, con- stitute our best worm-fishing months. I am not alluding to the simple and coarse practice of the art, as pursued in flooded and dis- coloured streams, among hungry unwary fish. I treat of it solely as respects clear waters inhabited by cunning cautious trout, and in consequence, as a method of angling, requires of the craftsman great skill, consummate address, and no stinted amount of practice, prudence, and patience. The angler who can capture trout when the waters are low and clear, the skies bright, and atmosphere warm, will have no difficulty in filling 46 FISHING. his creel in a Hooded stream. I heartily concur with Stoddait and Stewart, those accomplished Anglers and brilliant writers on the subject, when they assert that fishing in clear water is the only branch of the art that ought to be dignified by the name of sport. Angling and butchering fish I consider two totally different occupations. For my own part, I would rather capture eight or nine pounds of well fed, plump trout, than twenty pounds of lank, lean, big-headed fish, such as are to be met with in the Tarset. And as a contrast to the above-named rivulet, I may mention the far famed Coquet, which is un- . questionably one of the finest trouting streams oil the Borders ; and of all the streams that I am acquainted with, is, moreover, the most amply stocked with trout. The Coquet trout externally is a beautiful fish : the back is finely curved, the head small and of a fine golden-olive tint, the stars 011 each side being of a purple hue. And I may observe that there is a marked resemblance ex- isting between the trout of the Coquet, Liddel, and Whiteadder. As regards the sister streams Reed and North Tyne, the trout frequently to be met with in them unite the characteristics belonging to the fish of each river, and are deeply shaped, small headed FISHING. 47 trout, The outward complexion of the sides is yellow, beautifully bespangled with stars or beads of a deep crimson colour. And with regard to the neighbouring stream, the Wansbeck, the same observation holds good. ' [Regarding clear water fishing, the first subject is the rod and tackle most suitable for the pur- pose ; this merits very strict attention. The rod should net be shorter than twelve feet ; this, with a line from one to one and a half times the length of the rod, is sufficient to keep the angler out of sight in the clearest water. And with respect to the reel line, the one you use for fly-fishing will suit the purpose. That for casting should be fine, long, and well tapered ; the lower portions composed of four lengths of the very fined gut that can be had, tinged with the ordinary docoction of logwood and copperas. As to the size of hook best adapted for this mode of fishing, I recommend James Dyson's round bend Xo, 6, fine wire, which can be pur- chased of Mr Thompson, fishing-tackle manu- facturer, Hexham. In attaching worm hooks to the gut, use fine silk thread of a crimson colour. See that it be well waxed, and adopt a small pro- jection of gut or bristle to keep the worm in position, so as to prevent it from slipping down and exposing the shank of the hook ; then care- 48 FISHING. fully lap downwards, and finish with two hitch knots j a touch of spiiit varnish makes all secure: Many different kinds of worms are used by the angler ; but above all others I prefer the moss- worm, which, unfortunately, is very scarce, and to be found only in certain localities. Although around Aid Crag, the vicinity of Woodburn, and other places where the ground is of a mossy nature, they may be had. they may also be obtained among old clots or sods by the sides of open drains. When taken from the earth they are of a creamy hue, and on being kept a few days, and put through the piocess of toughening, subse- quently recommended, they assume a lively pink colour. Next to the moss- worm ranks the brand- ling, which species of worm is too well-known to require any description, a sit is to be found around nearly every farm-steading, and is a good sub- stitute for the moss- worm when the latter cannot be procured. A small bright lively worm is always more en- ticing to a well fed trout than a big soft reptile ; and when the waters are clear worms can hardly be had too small, if they will cover the hook. A worm from two to three inches long, and about the thickness of a hen quil, is the largest size that should be used. FISHING. 49 Worms on being unearthed (and not intended for immediate use,) should be placed for three or four minutes in a vessel containing water; the farther effect of this immersion is to cleanse them partially of what imparts to the skin a dingy hue. Thus washed, they should be allowed to crawl about on a clean dry board, with a view of freeing them from all superfluous moisture. When this is sufficiently done, transfer them into a large jar, filled, or nearly so, with hartshorn moss. The hartshorn is a species of moss found chiefly on moorland and in boggy places surrounded by heath. Externally, on the exposed parts, it possesses a reddish tinge ; the lower foliage is of a pale yellow. When dry it keeps for years, and the worm-fisher ought to possess a stock of it, as in cultivated districts it is difficult to procure. Before using the moss, let it be well washed, the hard and whitish stalks twitched off, and the red portions retained. The drier the moss among which the worms are placed, the quicker they be- come fit for use ; at the same time be it remem- bered, their natural juices are sooner exhausted, and if kept beyond a certain period without mois- ture, pine away and die. The dryness of the moss ought, therefore, to be regulated by circumstances by the state of the weather, the temperature of the apartment where 50 FISHING. the jar is placed, and the time its contents are re- quired to be used. The essential matter is t ; :. have your worms red and lively. This can be accomplished by feeding them on a species of highly coloured earth, re- duced to a fine powder resembling brick dust. This may be purchased at any druggist's, under the name of Bole Armenian. Being 1 deprived of their natural sustenance in the shape of earth, the worms consume a portion of it as their food, im- bibing at the same time its alluring colour. It is administered to them by being first moistened with water, then mixed among the moss. While under- going the above mentioned process, they should be placed in a cool shady place. Regarding the time of day when trout take most greedily, that depends not a little on the state of the atmosphere. In warm weather they are in feeding humour shortly after sunrise, and continue to be so until one or two p.m. ; generally, however, they do not take freely before eight or nine a.m. The whole of a pool may be fished when there is a breeze upon it. When there is no wind, the only part of a pool worth fishing is the strong rush at the head. But the streams are what the angler should rely upon ; and the best trout are to be got in shallow water, close on the edge of the strong run. FISHING, 51 In tr on ting with the worm in clear waters, all able anglers cast up stream. Angling up stream with the worm possesses all the advantages which have been mentioned in fly-fishing ; and to fish up a clear water, a proper casting of the line is of primary importance. The two things to be at- tended to are first, to throw highly, so as not to break the worm ; and secondly, to throw with certainty to any required spot. In casting a worm, you should allow it to go out behind, then urge it forward slowly ; all sudden jerks must be avoided, as they are apt to tear the worm. The point of the rod should go nearer the water than in casting a fly; and extend the rod to the full length, in order to get the bait as far out as possible. In doing this you must not lower the point of the rod till you have given the worm all the forward impetus intended; then lower it slowly almost to a level with the water, and the worm will go to the full stretch of both rod and line. Whenever the worm alights, raise your rod gradually, but take care not to rais^ it so quickly ns in any way to interfere with the motion of the worm. It is of great importance that there should be very little line in the water, not so much be- cause it is calculated to alarm the trout, as that the action of the stream upon the line will in some- cases bring the worm much faster down than it 52 FISHING. would otherwise come ; in others it will bring it nearer the surface, and in either case giving an unnatural motion to the lure. As already re- marked, all able worm fishers invariably cast up stream ; in so doing they take up their stand below where the trout are presumed to lie, never allowing the bait as it is carried down to pass bolow them. This practice embodies two advan- tages, both of which demand attention. In the first place, he is kept better concealed from the wary eye of the trout, which, as is well known, when resting fronts the current, and, although possessed of visual organs sufficiently prominent to detect objects above or on either side, can descry but very partially what takes place in its rear ; and secondly, from his position he can strike with greater ceitainty and effect. In this par- ticular he acquires a very decided advantage over the old f angled mode of worm-fishing, that, namely, of casting down stream, adopting which system the angler, when striking, is more apt to pull the hook fairly out of the mouth of the fish without even pricking it, than when he throws against the current and strikes downwards to bring the bend and barb in contact with the mouth of the trout. A third advantage obtained by the mode of casting recommended is that the water is less disturbed, the unavoidable plunging of the FISHING. 53 wader affecting only those portions of the water that lie below him. The other advice conveyed by the practice, never allow the bait \\hich is carried down by the current to pass below you, lift it always before coming in line with the opposite bank of the river. In permitting- it to descend farther you not only angle without much hope of success, but you frighten more good trout than you are aware of. A fish, for instance, has just caught a glimpse of your bait as it travels towards you ; he follows it, but by the time he can give you any intimation of his approach it is carried down either to your feet or to a short dis- tance on either side of where you stand. Still he pursues it, but being made aware of your presence he becomes alarmed, darts off, and scares all the fish in that place ; whereas, had you lifted your worm in sufficient time you would have left him above you on the look out, and readier than ever to seize the bait when again thrown beyond him. The first notice you get of a trout having taken your lure is a stoppage of the line. This is the moment for striking, as in clear water fishing the greatest error that the angler can fall into is to fe^l for the trout. Never do this, but on the least tug at your lure or straightening of your line strike. In performing the movement, do so steadily, and with firmness, not by means of a 54 FISHING. jerk, which is apt either to snap the gut or tear away the hold obtained by the hook ; and re- member always to strike downwards, or as near as possible with the flow of the stream. In playing a trout, let o ut as little line as possible, and never allow it to get slack. In taking the fish out of the water, take him out with your hands ; never attempt to lift him with the line, or you are almost sure to lose both your trout and your temper. THE WANSBECK AND COQUET. These rivers have been frequently in a state of spate of late, and angling has been uncertain. Some good sport has, however, been frequently met with, and a Newcastle angler sends me word that several good baskets of trout have been caught lately. Mr James Armstrong, well known as an angler, otter hunter, and breeder of Dandie Dinmonts, has been as successful perhaps as any one, and he has captured some very nice trout in both streams with a bait that is said to be a very attractive one to the trout in general, and in this district particularly, viz, the mossworm in four days Mr Armstrong captured 681b. of trout with it, viz, 181b. in the Wansbeck on June 10, 161b on the llth, and 191b on the 13th ; and on the 20th he basketed 151b in the Coquet. J. E. M. From " The Pield" of the 12th of July, 1879. ON FISHI\G WITH THE MINNOW FoR TROUT. In handling this subject, I shall briefly lay before the reader a summary of useful information which, if carried out, will be found to be one of the most deadly methods of fishing with the minnow for trout. The largest trout taken by the rod are caught by the minnow. Trout accustomed to prey upon their neighbours attain great size, and may be more readily taken by the minnow than by any other means. Minnows are not easily caught, however, and a great many contrivances are used to capture them, but the most reliable of all the methods yet employed for the purpose is the " minnow trap," which can be purchased of almost any fishing-tackle manufacturer, who will give you full instructions how to use it, but at first glance that is easily seen, and what has been held to be the secret of preserving minnows is simply this : As soon as you catch your minnows put them among the best malt whisky, when they will be fit either for immediate use. or keep firm for years. 56 FISHING. A minnow measuring about an inch and three quarters (tail included) is the best size, and always select the best shaped and silvery coloured ones, those of a greenish colour are worthless. As re- gards the rod, this should be fifteen feet long, and stiff. The reel line in common use will answer very well for this also. The casting line should be triple spun, and three feet long, to which add six lengths of good round clean gut. And as regards hooks, I have tried all kinds, and experience teaches me that two hooks, with a drag behind, will kill more than any other combination. Take a small sized salmon hook and tie it on to your lowest length of gut ; then take a worm hook (No 5) and tie it on close above the salmon hook, so that the bend of the small hook may just touch the shank end of the large one. The drag consists of triple hooks tied on to a separate length of gut, with a loop at one end to slip on above the shank end of No. 5 hook. The drag, I may remark, should, when stretched out, be three and a half inches behind the minnow; the tail of which, in spinning, describes a ring as it ware, and the drag being still farther out catch the trout that bite shy or miss the minnow. \Vith regard to swivels, one should be placed two feet above the hooks, and a second two feet FISHING. 57 and a half farther up. Two or three split shot (No. 3) should be placed between the swivels, varying them according to circumstances in heavy water, more if necessary. In attaching the minnow, enter the large hook at the mouth, and run the fish in the same manner as you would a worm along over the bend and shank. When about a quarter of an inch from the tail bring through the barb, allowing it to protrude freely, then thrust the smaller hook through the lips of the minnow to keep it in position. Trout take the minnow most readily when the water is just -beginning to rise ; then it is that the trout leave the banks and stones where they have been keeping out of sight when the waters were small and clear. When the water is in full flood little can be done, but when it is beginning to subside the trout will again take the minnow greedily, the tails of streams and sides of pools are the spots you should then fish for them. Trout take the minnow more in June and July than at any other time of the season, and, if the weather be rough, a flooded water in these months is a certain sign of sport. As to the proper mode of playing or working the minnow I require to say little. It should be subjected, in fact, to every variety of movement. Sometimes it ought to be urged along with short 58 FISHING. measured jerks ; sometimes drawn steadily against the stream in one continued pull ; in short, there is no possible mode of playing this lure which may not prove successful in attracting trout, and, remember, never lift your minnow till it is close to the edge. A trout when fairly on the feed makes a grand rash at a minnow ; this is the time to be cool, and slacken your line for four or five seconds or so, then strike full and firm, and in four cases out of five your fish will be hooked. When the weather is warm, and the streams small and clear, trout will take the minnow all night ; the fish then feed in the shallow water at the foot of pools, and at such times I have known Tceen anglers capture many a good creel of yellow- fins. THE CURING OF SALMON ROE, AND HOW TO FISH WITH IT. (Chiefly extracted from Stoddart's Angler's Companion.} There are two or three ways of curing salmon roe. It is either cured entire that is, as it is taken from the fish in the form of what is pro- vincially termed the k 'waim" ; or it is reduced into a paste ; or else it is converted to single par- ticles termed beads. The first object of the curer is to obtain what is reckoned an available supply of roe. Much of the ingredient met with under that name is next to useless, the seed or ova being too small in the particle, or else through an injury done to the fish from which they are taken, largely transfused with blood. In either case, and under other cir- cumstances easily recognisable, it ought to be re- jected. The roe best adapted for curing is to be found in the " baggit " fish, or ripe spawner ; that is, a salmon on the eve of depositing its ova. The beads or pellets shorld, unless intended to be cured in the way first mentioned, have attained their full size, equalling that of a small '60 FISHING. pea or swan shot. They ought, moreover, to be distinct and easily separated, as well as of a high pink or brick colour. In every preparation of this bait, the first step of the process is to cleanse the leaf, by removing from it the clotted blood and other impurities which it may happen to have contracted. In some case3, when the roe is designed to be cured in the leaf, this may be done simply with a cloth or towel ; the natural juices are thus kept intact in their primitive condition. But it seldom happens that the leaf is so pure and undamaged as to allow of such a superficial mode of cleansing. Accordingly, in most cases, it is found essential to wash and pick it. To do this properly use water slightly warmed and mixed with a small quantity of milk. Perform the operation in a large hand-basin, and transfer, when cleansed, each leaf, layer, or fragment, to a sieve or cullender, by means of which the super- fluous fluid will most readily be drained off. Thus cleansed and strained, the roe is made fit for one or other of the processes of curing already alluded to. The speediest and most efficacious method of curing the roe for immediate use is this : Take the layers of roe as they are taken from the fish, cleanse them from all adhering particles of blood, then take a piece of flannel, and after spreading it FISHING. 61 out on a table, place upon it one of the layers, sprinkle it thoroughly with salt, roll once or twice round with the flannel, then proceed in a like manner with the next, and so on, until the flannel is full ; expose the whole then to a gentle heat. In the course of two or three hours it will hare become firm and of a most glutinous nature, in which state it is ready for use. In curing roe in the leaf, saltpetre is sometimes employed with a view of heightening its colour. I would recommend, however, that this ingredient be used very sparingly, as its flavour is by no means palatable to the fish, nor indeed are its effecti in improving the natural colour of the bait otherwise than doubtful. There are two modes of preparing paste from the salmon roe. The one generally adopted is the least tedious, and although the ingredient produced from it is not so equal or thoroughly broken up or mixed as that of the other, it possesses all, and to spare, of its attractive virtues, being a compound of the bead and paste, and on this account insinu- ating itself into the good graces of the bull-trout, which species of fish give a preference to unbroken over finely reduced roe. The following is the method to be observed in preparing it : After cleansing, proceed to break down the leaf, separating at the same time the beads and pellets from the films to which they are attached, then throw over them a quantity of fine salt in the pro- portion of three or four ounces or upwards to every pound of roe, and stirring the mixture with the hand, incorporate all thoroughly, also squeeze to- gether, and occasion to burst several handfuls of the beads, in order that, thus expressed, their ad- hesive contents may operate in binding and giving consistency to those left intact. This process con- cluded, transfer the whole mass to a tin cullender, there to remain under cover for some hours, during which time a considerable quantity of oily matter becomes separated and drained off, the pieces of the pellets being acted upon by the salt to this effect. When the draining has ceased, the paste is ready for use. If intended to be kept for some time, remove it into small pots, pressing it well down with the hand in filling, and running over it a little melted lard. The other preparation of roe-paste alluded to undergoes up to a certain stage the same process as the one above described. After the beads, how- ever, have been separated, place them in a jug or deep jar, and by means of a small wooden shaft or pestle, bruise, mix, and stir them up vigorously, until every individual pellet has become broken and dissolved, and the whole forms a thick, creamy- looking substance. During this operation, which is somewhat of a tedious one, and will occupy the person engaged in it at least an hour, a handful of salt ought from time to time to be added. When all has been thoroughly incorporated and mixed up together, pour boiling water upon the mass and it will instantly harden and become formed into a solid lump of paste, capable of being removed by the hand . The water, be it again remarked, must be quite hot, and poured into the jug or basin con- taining the roe, not applied to it externally. This is the true secret of preparing salmon-roe paste. Of the curing of this ingredient in the bead state, little is required to be said. It consists simply in the drying and packing up of the roe in the separated pellets, and requires no process beyond that of submitting them to the action of air and heat until sufficiently toughened, and then com- mitting them to earthenware pots or small jars. In curing salmon roe for bait, the preservation of its natural colour should always be kept in view. The sweetness of taste also is a matter upon which some anglers lay great stress. If by that is meant freedom in the flavour of the roe from salt, I take the liberty of differing with them ; for there is no doubt that, independent of the properties of the roe itself, that substance possesses qualities of its own highly attractive in their nature. These, in regard to wild animals of various kinds, are well known ; 64 FISHING. they are exemplified in the instance of what is termed by the American hunter " a salt lick," or moist spot of ground highly impregnated with the mineral in question. To this, deer and game of all descriptions repair from great distances, lured by the attractive nature of the salt. T am of opinion, therefore, that the flavour of this sub- stance is very agreeable to trout, in common with other animals, and that a measure of the success met with by the angler in fishing with salmon roe is owing to its liberal use. I shall now very briefly direct the attention of the reader to the tackle best adapted for roe-fishing, interspersing a few instructions as to the proper mode of angling with this attractive and deadly bait. The hooks to be used are No. 7, two of which tie back to back, and press forward by means of the finger and thumb, so as to be at right angles with each other. These serve sufficiently to retain or secure the bait, without resorting to wool or cotton fibres. Leaf roe I seldom fish with, pre- ferring the mixed paste already described. I also employ strong round gut, and weight or lead my line largely, in order to keep the bait from pro- gressing too rapidly. In fishing with the salmon roe, I recommend the following initructions : Let the angler be provided *See Stoddart's " Angler's Companion." FISHING. 66 with a stiffish single-handed rod, and the tackle already described ; sally forth either alone or con- sorted, at most with one companion ; he may then betake himself to a favourable stretch of water, the depth being from two to five feet, the bottom gravelly and free from impediments, and the current gradual. Near the head of this he ought to select his stand, on a dry and unexposed por- tion of the bank. There is no necessity on com- mencing operations that he should bait the spot ; this in the course of a few throws will be done sufficiently. In throwing, the angler should generally employ a short line, not much exceeding his rod in length, and occasionally a good deal shorter. He can always in that highly discolour- ed state of the water, in which salmon roe is most effective as a bait, entice his spoil to within a yard's distance from the margin. Accordingly, he loses no advantage by employing the descrip- tion of line recommended ; and in the matter of striking, acquires a very important one. Some- times, however, in certain localities, and when bull-trout are on the feed, it may be expedient to increase the length of his cast or throw ; also in brown or fine waters it is essential to do so. In baiting with #ie mixed or other paste, let the angler extract a small portion, equal in size to a horse bean, from the pot or jar. This may be 66 FISHING. done readily, by means of an old pocket-knife, or other sharp-pointed instrument. He then requires to insert the bait in question betwixt the project- ing barbs of his hooks, in the angle formed by their junction. A slight pressure of the fore- finger will assist greatly in attaching it ; but it i& not necessary to conceal every portion of the wire, as in worm-fishing. When casting, the angler ought to be extremely cautious, lest by excess of force he should occasion his bait to drop off. He will find it preferable to pitch it out gently from him, instead of throwing the line over his shoulder; this in general he requires to do partially up and against the stream, not forward at right angles with the bank, as is practised under the ordinary style of roe-fishing. He must then allow the bait to sink rapidly, and to travel at a measured rate along the bottom or channel. When checked, he ought to consider it seized by a fish, and on such occasions to act as if it were so, striking down in the direction of the current. In the mode of fishing recommended, the angler, as already hinted, should restrict his operations to a single spot in the range or beat occupied by him ; doing so, he will most effectually concen- trate the feeding trout. He should on all oc- casions keep his line taut, sotftiding as it wert the bottom with the leads attached to it, and FISHING. 67 holding on the alert, in case of any sudden strain or stoppage arising from the interference of a fish "with his bait. On favourable days this will happen in the course of every cast or throw taken by him, and he has only to strike at the proper moment to secure the trout. March, April, October, and November being unquestionably the most suitable months, a flooded river during one or other of them is the sure index of sport. The proper moment for commencing operations is when the water on its decrease has begun to assume a yellow or light brown appearance, the particles of sand and soil being still, to some ex- tent, in an unsettled state. From this period until the water merges into the deepest brown or black colour, the salmon roe may be successfully fished with, as it is the most attractive and deadly bait that can be employed in capturing trout. HOW TO COOK A TROUT AT THE RIVER SIDE. Kindle a fire of dry wood ; take your fish when just out of the water, or from your creel, roll him up in some damp clay, then lay the fish among the embers of your fire ; when the clay presents a white colour, which generally occurs when it has got thoroughly hard and cracked, the trout is properly done, and a slight blow will easily re- move the clay, and display to the hungry angler a delicious meal. Wandering tribes of gipsies frequently may be Seen cooking various dishes in the above manner. The fish. I may observe, must not be cut open and cleaned. During the firing process the intestines and other impurities will draw together, and not in the slightest degree in- jure the trout. In the absence of clay, paper may be used. Two or three folds of old newspapers rolled round the fish, the ends being twisted to- gether, the whole then completely soaked in water and placed on the fire until well charred, will answer the same purpose. Salt will improve the flavour of your trout. TO THE FISHING AWAY. 69 $0 fyt g O joyfu' the lark spreads his wee dewy wings, An* far in the blue skies sae sweetly he sings ; The curlew an* pliver wing their way to the west, To the mosses an' flowes, and the knowes they like best. The flow'rets are springing in clusters, my lad ; The throssels are singing sae blithesome and glad ; Our hearts are sae lightsome, a' nature sae gay, We'll off to the streams, to the fishing away. The cuckoo an' swallow ance mair they return, An* the wee water-waggie's away up the burn, On the bou^h o' the hazel the tassels they hing, On the brink o' the streamlet the primroses spring, The gorcock craws crouse on the mossie grey stane, The blackcock croos proud round his bonnie grey hen ; At the first peep o' morn in the sun's early ray We'll off to the streams, to the fishing away. Wi' gad, creel, an' tackle, wi' mossbait an' flee, We'll ower the heather sae gladsome and free, An' doun by the linns where the dun otters hide, And fish the clear streams where the yellow trouts glide. 70 DANDIE DINMONT AND HIS TERRIERS. We'll ramble the Kielder an' Coquet sae fine, The Eeed, Jed, and Liddel, and bonnie North Tyne ; We'll fling up our bonnets, an' gie a hurray, An' off to the streams, to the fishing away. DANDIE DINMONT AND HIS TERRIERS. Respecting James Davidson, of Hindlee, and Ms dogs, old Watty Jackson of Catcleuch gives much valuable information. cc Monie a time," says that veteran hunter, " hae I huntit wi* Jamie ; an* frae what Sir Walter reytes aboot Dandie Dinmont an' his Pepper an' Mustard terriers, Jamie was the verra man, there's nae doot o't ; for his terriers wer maistly Peppers an' Mustards, lang backit, shurt leggit customers ; maybe rather shurt i' the leg for rinnin' efter the huns ower rough grun ; but Jamie was up to that ; he aye carryit twae o' them in a wallet, ane on eyther seyde, afore him on the galloway's back; an' when the fox holed, they wer fresh. I mind yence o* my faither an' him howkin ane at the Little Worchet yonder ; an' the fox gat Jamie by the ban' an' he shoots ' Ha ! the lim', he's beyten ! DANDIE DINMONT AND HIS TERRIERS. 71 Aweel, aweel my frien/ quoth Jamie, ; if ye'll keep yer grip, I'll keep mine ! ' Od ; I could tell ye ower as monie o' Jamie's brecks as wad fill a hale beuik." But io Dr Grant, of Hawick, I am mostly in- debted for my information on this celebrated race of dogs, he being recognised as the best judge in Britain ; and I may state that, should ever that learned gentleman feel inclined to publish the voluminous manuscripts in his possession regard- ing the above, it would tend greatly to enlighten the public as to the interpretation of that cele- brated novelist, Sir Walter Scott. On the authority of the Doctor, therefore, I give the various Points and Characteristics of a Pure and Perfect Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Head : Large and long, with very strong jaws, and teeth which are quite level ; the head of the bitch is generally smaller than that of the clog. Ears : From three to four inches long. They should not be round at the point and broad like the hound, but somewhat in shape of the almond or filbert. No doubt the clos^ lying ears look best, but it is not essential that either one or both ears should lie flat. Many of the best bred Dandies 72 DANDIE DINMONT AND HIS TERRIERS. I have seen, when they were in much greater abundance on the Borders, carried one or both ears somewhat up, and I never met with the peculiarity in any but a thoroughly game animal. Like Sir Walter Scott, I prefer the small trian- gular ear, whether it lie flat or not, provided it be set properly on to lie well back, so as to be as far as possible out of the way of punishment in battle when closing with fox or otter. Nose : A flesh-coloured nose in a reddish coloured Dandie is not objectionable, and does not in any way constitute him an illegitimate member of the Dinmont family; but I like the black nose best for Dandies of every colour. Eyes : Full, bright, and intelligent. The colour may vary much, and is, like the colour of the claws, fixed by mere in- fluence of nature, that regulate the colour of the animal's coat. The t; hazel " colour in all its shades I like most, and the darker it is so as to appeir black when in its deepest hue, pleases my taste best. Neck : Well developed and rather short. Body : Long, with low shoulders and the back slightly curved down behin^ them, with a corresponding arch of the loin. Legs : Short, par- ticularly in front, and turned out at the toes, with extraordinary strength of bone and muscle, in pro- portion to the animal's size. Tail : Somewhat curved, and carried over the back, with more or less BANDIED DINMONT AND HIS TERKIERS. 73 feather, or almost none in some instances. Height : Prom about ] to 13 inches at top of shoulder. Coat : A mixture of hardish and soft short hair, with more or less of silky hair of a lighter colour on the head, the legs and feet partaking to a slight extent of the same. Colour : Either reddish brown or bluish grey, or a combination of both, in which case part of the body and back is bluish grey, while the legs, and sometimes a large por- tion, if not the entire head, inside of ears, chest, and underside of tail is reddish brown, or verging on a pale tan or fawn colour. Weight : From 13 to 221bs. Claws: White claws I positively object to as being proof of in-and-in-breeding, though it is not proof in itself of impurity. Yellow claws are natural to reddish brown and flaxen- coloured Dandies, and are, therefore, not objec- tionable ; while jet black claws on those light- coloured dogs are, like black eyes and black noses, by far the greatest beauty spots of the Dandie Dinmont race. The following is the Genealogy rf the Dandie Dinmont Terriers belong- ing to Dr. Grant, of Hawick, whose far-famed kennel of Dandies are by " THE DKUID," and other sporting writers, allowed to 74 DANDLE DINMONT AND HIS TERRIEES. rank among the foremost in the canine peerage of the world. Dr. Grant's (dogs) " Tom " and < c Piper," by his <; Shamrock III." and out of his " Nettle." Shamrock III." by " Pepper III.," belonging to Sir George H. S. Douglas, of Springwood Park, Kelso, by his " Pepper II." Pepper II." by his u Pepper I." Pepper I." was by " Dandie II." belonging to Mr. John Stoddart of Selkirk, by his " Dandie I." " Daudie I." was out of a bitch named u Gypp," belonging to the late James Davidson of Bindlee. The dam of " Shamrock III." was a bitch named " Vixen," belonging to James Scott, by his " Shamrock II. ;< Shamrock II." was by Mr Brisbane's " Dandie," bred by Lord Elcho. Dr. Grant's " Nettle," the dam of "Tom" and " Piper"* was by his " Black Jack," and out of his " Gypp II." " Gypp II." by his " Glorious Jack," and out of his " Lucy Anne." " Lucy Anne" out of "Muss." "Muss" out of " Vic." "Vic" out of "Maida. " Maida " out of " Meadow," (the renowned terrier bitch referred to in a book entitled Sionehenye on the Dog. See page 78.) " Meadow " by a dog named " Pepper," belonging to Sir George H. S. Douglas, and out of his " Schann." " Schann " DAN DIB DINMONT AND HIS TERRIERS. 75 by his " Old Pepper." " Old Pepper " was by "Dandle f." " Dandle I." was out of %; Gypp," (the bitch aheady referred to) belonging the late/ James Davidson of Hindlee. The above genealogy I extracted from the Dandie Dinmont records in the possession of Dr. Grant ; and may observe that Ned Dunn, of White Lea ; Davie Kyle, of Broadlee ; Yeddie Jackson, of Fairloans ; Tom Potts, of Burnmouth ; the Telfers of Skaap, and the Telfers of Blind- burn, were in possession of terriers that were sprung from those of the u Pepper " and " Mus- tard " breed possessed by James Davidson. * The Telfers of Blindburn, nephews of Dandie Dinmont. DESCEIPTION OF OTTEE HUNTING IN THE TEYIOT. OTTER huntingis unquestionably one of our best national amusements, and the most exciting of all our field sports. One of the most brilliant and dashing hunts of the sort ever witnessed in the borders of Scotland occurred on Eriday morning, May 29, 1863, in the Teviot, with Dr. Grant's otter hounds, and has since been the theme of conversation among all classes of society in the district. The hunt was well supported, and among the many present on foot as well as on horseback we observed the Hon. Arthur Elliot, olonel Elliot (brother of the Eight Hon. the Earl of Minto), the Hon. Wm. Fitzwilliam Elliot, William Eodgie, Esq., Alfred Wilson, Esq., Eobert Selby, Esq., W. B. Graham, Esq., &c., &c. The hounds were thrown off at 6 a.m. below Burnfoot, and from the beginning all could see that the Doctor was at work in real earnest. Among the rocks in the river below Hornshole, Caledonia first challenged the drag, and, well OTTER HUNTING. 77 supported by her companions, Eoyal, Eingwood, and Pibroch, ran it briskly to above Teviotbank, where it was lost. For reasons only known (so far as we are aware) to the huntsman and his special friends, some of whom had been out all the night by the river side stopping drains and making observations, no time was put off here in searching for the otter's whereabouts ; but off they dashed to opposite Minto, where the river runs deep, and the bank on the south side is densely wooded, very steep, and its margin ex- tensively excavated below every here and there, owing to the river during the floods washing away the sandy soil from among the roots of the sturdy trees. The Doctor having first rid himself of his horse, cheered his hounds to the river and sent them across. Some took to dragging the land, while the brave and renowned Ringwood pre- ferred swimming down the river, smelling every stone, hole, and cranny as he passed it. All were quiet, eagerly viewing with admiration the instinct of the dogs, when Eingwood broke silence by a hearty burst of music which told its own tale, while he " set " an otter far away under- ground beneath an elm tree, and wrought his way eagerly through the dense network of the roots into his halt, where he fought the first of single-handed subterranean conflicts that follow- 78 OTTER HUNTING. ed. Up came the other hounds quickly, with, raised hackles and their sterns up. In dashed the wise old Boyal to support his friend. The other hounds cheered them with the most vocifer- ous bursts of music from above, while their master called out " Hark to Bingwood and Boyal. Mark him, good old hounds. Ho ! go at him ! Yoicks ! " The otter slipped away, and was viewed by Broadwith, Stoddart, and several others, swimming cleverly up the river under water. Stoddart sung out "Here he goes, Doctor ; he is a big one ; now for sport ! " How- ever, he gained one of his strongholds from below water, and into which no hole could be found. A messenger was despatched to Deanf oot to bring picks and spades, Caledonia having marked him far back several feet below the surface of the bank. A hole was being made there to insert the terrier, when the otter voluntarily shifted ground ; but no sooner had he done so than he gained another place of shelter of the same sort farther down, and also without any entry from above. Here again he was marked far back from the river, and another hole required to be dug over him to admit a dog. He slipped away there, and endeavoured to cross the country to the Bule. The hounds seemed alive to his move- ments, were soon on his track, overshot him, and OTTER HUNTING. 79 headed him back to the Teviot, when he was viewed down the bank by one of Lord Minto's sons, and tallyhoed into the river. For a while after he seemed lost, and a friend remarked to the huntsman that it would be impossible to make anything of him, and strongly advised him to draw off the hounds. "By no means, while we are able to work and the hounds to hunt/* was the reply of the Doctor, whom energy and per- severance have so strongly characterised all his lifetime. At this moment Mr Broadwith's cele- brated dog Slash made a desperate dash under water, and gained a shelf of the beach under- ground, where he discovered the game and had a desperate encounter with him. But the otter escaped somehow or other from the powerful jaws of Slash, who came out after him showing the crimson in different places, especially about the ears. Ever afterwards he was so incessantly- tormented by the persuasive eloquence of the hounds at one time, and the application of their ivory at another, to keep moving for his own sake, that he constantly shifted ground, dodging up and down from one halt to another with his enemies closely pursuing him. In the end he broke away over Spittalf ord, a considerable way down the river. Mr Stoddart viewed him, gave the alarm, and stuck closely to him with his dog. 80 OTTER HUNTJJNO. The Doctor with, a whoop of his horn instantly gathered the hounds, bounded into the saddle with a loud tally-ho, and galloped at a dangerous pace along the beach and through the very channel of the river below the ford till he reached the new field of action. On seeing the game dog contending bravely with the otter, though much distressed and at the risk of being drowned, for the otter had decidedly the best of it, he jumped from his horse, dashed into the river, and fear- lessly caught the brute by the tail under water with an amount of dexterity that will long be re- membered by those who saw the feat, and at once brought the savage creature to bay. By this time, however, the Doctor was much fatigued, and required even to be supported by Stoddart and others, while they dragged him by his own urgent request from the river across the beach along with the otter and dog still entangled in lively combat. He unfortunately fell on his back at the time, but no admonition could prevail on him to quit the otter's tail. The hounds by this time were up, and the Doctor asked assistance to take them all back that he might have the honour of introducing to the otter a pet terrier that had never had the pleasure of meeting an otter before. It was led by a chain with a collar round its neck. He brought him forward and allowed OTTER HUNTING. 81 the varmint to bite his cheek, saying " Go at him Bobby." To everybody's surprise, Bobby was in no way discomposed, but turned his face coolly to his adversary without a whimper, and in a few seconds was locked in the otter's throat by his jaws, and he never shifted his hold till he completed his work, and was removed by the hand of his masters. All the dogs were then allowed to gratify themselves by tattering the dead carcass in return for the many compliments it had paid them during the hunt, which had lasted over three hours and a half. The Doctor became faint from over- exertion, and through such had to throw himself down for a little on the cold ground. The otter was a male, and aged, weighing 25 Ibs., and measuring 50 J inches in length. A word here may not be out of place regarding the master and his hounds. Dr Grant is a native of Strathspey in the Highlands of Scotland, where his forefathers constituted a powerfi 1 ! and a warlike clan more than six hun- dred years ago. He is a thorough-bred clansman, and the representative of the eighteenth branch of the " Honourable family of Grant of Grant," being the fifth descendant of Patrick, second son of James Laird, of Grant, who founded the family of Wester Elchies in 1663 (see " Shaw's History of Moray ; or the Genealogy of the Grant 82 OTTER HUNTING. Family") and through life he has stamped him- self a deserving representative of his family; a gentleman, and a true-hearted sportsman. He is one of those who advocate fair play to the otter as strenuously as he advocates fair play to the hound, believing the pleasure of the chase to be more in the pursuit than in the death of the game, and those who know him will never envy the position of those who may inadvertently tamper unfairly either with the otter or with the hound. The beautiful condition of the hounds, their highly-developed instinct, their thorough gameness, and exquisite training, coupled with the frank deportment of their unassuming, though accomplished leader, are attractions of no ordinary nature, and render it a matter of no surprise that the nobility and gentry of the dis- trict so thoroughly enjoy a morning's recreation with them by the river side. FOXHUNTING IN THE EEEDWATEE OOUNTEY. THE morning after the football match at Hors- ley a joyous party of foxhunt ers met the Border foxhounds on the heights of Catcleugh. We are early afoot, and have a fine view of many a hill and glen which of old was the haunt of the wolf and red deer and the rugged retreat of the fierce reebooter. Yonder come the hounds, and in their wake are the mounted hunters, twelve in number, among whom are the two Miss Eobson's of Byrness, and Miss Dodd of the Learn, all three ardent followers of the foxhunt on the mountains, and true votaries of the goddess of the silver bow. The hounds are cast around all the likely ground for a drag but without success, till they wind round the watershed between Coquet and Heed, and on Thirlnioor the sweet notes of the beauties proclaim that bold reynard has been on the wander. We are out of the hunt, how- ever, unless fortune favours us, as we are far in the rear on Eaven Knowe, in company with T. Eobson, a herd callant, and E. Oliver, a firm 84 FOXHUNTING. and wiry foxhunter, whose keen eye marks the line of the dogs as they are streaming away for Cankercleugh. Ha! yonder's a check, and a cast. Now they are on again, and over the edge for Coquet, straight in a line for Cheviot. Hurrah ! they sweep round, yonder they come along the Her den Edge. We are in for a hunt yet ; the fox means the Eeedwater country, after all noo watch alang the weather gleam for the fox, says our friend with the falcon eye, ye may ken by yon curlew that he's no far off ; see, yon's him. And we get a momentary glimpse of something between us and the snow on the peak of Cheviot. Aye, faix it's him ; here he comes straight to us. Noo jouk down an' let him past. Whisht ! there he is wi' his tongue oot ; he's gae hard up already. He's past the holes at the Haven Crag, the hounds close on him, Bellman leading, all giving tongue fit to waken the fairies at the Whurlstone. And here come three of the riders, young Elliot of Hindhope first, a Dandie Dinmont of Bliiidburn next, and close up Miss E. Hobson of Byrness, the fair haired sister of the gallant young master of the pack. There's huntin' bluid for ye, exclaimed our friend of Speethope Haugh, as the young lady dashed past, and whose brilliant illustration of horsewomanship forcibly reminds us of the FOXHUNTING. 85 Incident of a hunting excursion when the steed of her sire lost its shoes in that desperate foxhunt on the Cheviots. A wild hallo we now hear in the distance. The fox is holed at the Saughy Crag. The terrier is in when we get forward, the fox has been too hard run to bolt for fun, but after two hours towzling he at last slips out and up the crag, along the height, chops back, and doubles like a hare, then over the braes through the firs past Cottonshope Burn foot, the gallant pack sticking to their fox like a brother, and again run him to ground on Saughside, where he has scarce room to hide, and we see some grand battles in turns with niy nabs and the terriers, the game little " Eock " (belonging to that gallant sportsman, Mr William Hedley, of Cottenshope Burn) gets a good snedding, so does Flint, the celebrated terrier of the Byrness ; the dog of Speethope Haugh has a long tug, too, but the weaver gets a gliff and turns tail. In a twinkling the fox bolts and on to the side of the Eeed, the dogs on him full cry. See yon black and tan, he's gaining on him every stride, there is a rush of fox and hounds over the brae into the water. It's a kill ; no, by Jove, it's a fair otter hunt. The fox is out, so are the hounds. Wellington is at him, and tumbles up his game. The various incidents of this brilliant run were witnessed by 86 THI BBDLINGTON TEBRIE. the author, and at the request of several of our Border foxhunters I here give it as a reprint. THE BEDLINGKTON TEEEIEE. to the public interest that has long attached, and still does attach, to the above in- teresting breed of dogs, I believe the following exhaustive account of this dog-fanciers' pet will be acceptable. HISTORY OP THE BREED. To make the matter clearly understood, it may be necessary to premise that during the first quarter of the present century, Mr Edward Donkin, of Flotterton still dear to the old sportsmen of Coquetside by the familiar soubriquet of " Hunting Ned " hunted a pack of foxhounds well known in the Rothbury district. At that time he possessed two very celebrated kennel terriers, " Peachem " and " Pincher," which are alluded to in the pedigree below. A colony of sporting nailers then flourished at Bedlington, who were noted for their plucky breed of terriers. But reform was at hand, and the old favourities were obliged to make way for new blood. To Joseph Ainsley, a mason by trade, belongs this honour. He purchased a dog named " Peachem," of a Mr Wm. Cowen, of Eothbury, and the result of a THE BEDLINGTON TEKRIEE. 87 union of this dog with. Mr Christopher Dixon's " Phoebe," of Longhorsley, was " Piper," belonging James Ander- son, of Eothbury Forest. Piper was a dog of slender build, about 15 inches high, and 151b weight. He was of a liver colour, the hair being a sort of hard woolly lint, his ears were large, hung close to his cheek, and were slightly feathered at the tip. In the year 1820, Mr J. Howe, of Alnwick, visited a friend at Bedlington, and brought with him a terrier bitch, named Phoebe, which he left with Mr Edward Coates, of the Vicarage. Phcebe belonged to Mr Andrew Eiddell, of Framlington, who subsequently made a present of her to A insley, but from the fact of her home being at the Vicarage, she was generally known as " Coates's Phoebe." Her colour was black or black blue, and she had the invariable light coloured silky tuft on her head. She was about thirteen inches high, and weighed 14lbs. In 1825 she was mated with Anderson's Piper, and the fruit of this union was the Bedlington terrier in question. Of the sagacity and courage of Ainsley's Piper, one of their offspring, a volume might be written, and to submit a list of the best known speci- mens would be tedious. There were Ainsley's Eanter (of Eedheugh, Gateshead), Coates's Peachem, Weather- burn's Phoebe, Hoy's Eocky, Fish's Crib, and, in short, a host of tried ones. The old and true breed is now scarce, and there are few indeed, even in Northumberland, able to furnish a reliable pedigree of the original doughty specimen. In some instances the cross with the otter hound has been indulged in, but the result was disappointment. The 88 THE BEDLINGTON TERRIER. bull strain introduced, it is supposed, for fighting pur- poses ; and for rabbit coursing, the leggy beast has been bred, but one and all diverge from the original, either in size, shape, or some other important particular. GENUINE CHARACTERISTICS OP THE TRU1 BEDLINQTON. The model Bedlington should be rather long and small in the jaw, but withal muscular, the head high and narrow, crowned with the tuft of silky hair of lighter colour than the body, the eyes must be small, round, and rather sunk, and dull until excited, and then they are "piercers," the ears are filbert shaped, long, and hang close to the cheek, free of long hair, but slightly feathered at the tips; the neck is long, slender, but muscular, and the body well proportioned, slender and deep-chested; the toee must be well arched, legs straight, and rather long in proportion to the height, but not to any marked extent; the tail varies from 8 inches to 12 inches in length, is small and tapering, and free of feather. The best, and indeed only true, colours are first, liver or sandy, and in either case the nose must be of a dark brown flesh colour, or secondly, a black blue, when the nose is black. QUALITIES. The Bedlington terrier is fast, and whether on land or water is equally at home. In appetite these dogs are dainty, and they seldom fatten, but experience has shown them to be wiry, enduring, and in courage equal to the bull dog. They will face almost anything, and I have known of a dog which would extinguish a, lighted candle, or burning paper at his master's bidding. To their other good qualities may be added their marked THE BEDLINGTON TERRIER. 89 intelligence and hostility to vermin of all forms and names. They will encounter the otter, fox, or badger, with the greatest determination. OTHER BREEDS. The linty haired, flaxen coloured terrier is common enough, but then he was never promoted, by good judges, to the dignity of a "Bedlington Terrier/' except through courtesy. The breeding in and in alluded to is con- demned as injurious beyond one strain. PEDIGREE OF THE TRUE BEDLINQTONS. The pedigree of Ainsley's Piper may be desirable as proving the facts contained in the above statements. Ainsley's Piper, by James Anderson's Piper, of Eothbury Forest, out of Ainsley's Phoebe, alias Coates's Phcebe ; Anderson's Piper, by Ainsley's Peacham, out of Chris- topher Dixon's Phcebe, of Longhorsley ; Peacham, by Co wen's Burdett, out of David Moffatt's bitch, of Ho wick ; Dixon's Phcebe, by Shea wick's Matchem, of Longhorsley, out of John Dodd's Phcebe, of the same place; Matchem, by Edward Donkin's Pincher, of Flotterton, out of William Wardle's bitch, of Longfram- lington ; Dodd's Phcebe, by Donkin's Old Peachem, out of Andrew Evan's Vixen, of Thropton ; Vixen, by the miller's dog of Felton, out of Carr's bitch, of Felton Hall; Ainsley's Old Phcebe was by the Kennington dog, out of Andrew Eiddle's Wasp, of FramKngton; Wasp, by William Turnbull's Pincher, of Holystone, out of William Wardle's ; Pincher, by Donkin's Old Peacham, out of Turnbull's Fan; Fan, by Myles's Matchem, of Netherwitton, by Squire Trevelyan's Flint: Donkin's Pincher, by Donkin's Old Peacham, continued from Ainsley's Crowner, by owner's Piper, out of owner's Meg ; 90 OTTER-HUNTING. Meg, out. of Jin (own sister to Piper), by Robert Bell's Tugg, of Wingates ; Tugg, by Robert Dixon's Dusty, of Longhorsley, out of a bitch of the Makepeace breed, presented by J. Ainsley to John Thompson. OTTER-HUNTING IN THE LIDDEL AND THE ESK. THE Carlisle otterhounds had a fine day's sport on the 12th of July, 1878. Meeting at Longtown, the drag was taken at Red Bank, and it was at first expected that a find would have been made in that favourite stronghold, but this expectation having been disappointed, a movement was made towards Canobie. Near the confluence of the Liddel and the Esk there was some lively dragging on the land, and all the way tip to Hollows Bridge signs were abundant of more than one otter having been astir. It was not until the drain at Tarras Foot was reached that the otter was found. However, Easper having entered the drain mouth was soon heard marking and baiting, and when he got out he bore numer- ous battle-scars upon his cheeks. The otter OTTER-HUNTING. 91 having been driven to the upper part of the drain excavations were made at different points. On trying the different sections with Smuggler and the terriers, it became evident that more than one otter was there, and the hounds were accor- dingly taken off to a distant part of the field. At length one was bolted from the high end of the drain, and was allowed to rush through the Tarras and get well on his way through the bushes and along the hill before the hounds were laid on. Then there was a fine burst amidst a scene of much excitement. The people by the Esk side had the satisfaction of seeing the otter come dashing down a steep bank and spring into the pool, with the whole pack following in full cry. After being hunted to and fro in the pool, the otter took down stream for a quarter of a mile and found shelter behind a rock, from which he was twice bolted by the terriers after a rather prolonged encounter. At length, finding the water too hot, he made across the pool, and took up a small rivulet that flows down a steep bank ; thence he entered the wood above the highway, and went straight ahead for above half a mile at a pace that would have astonished those who still adhere to the popular delusion that an otter cannot run upon land. The tangled undergrowth of briers and ferns gave the otter some advantage over the hounds, as the 92 OTTER-HUNTING. latter could not get their noses down, but at length the fugitive came to a standstill and paused for breath. Then he made down a ravine towards the river, but, changing his mind, he turned back, and after another short run, was seized by the hounds and killed. The otter proved to be a female lolbs weight, somewhat underfed, which perhaps accounts for her extraordinary activity and staying powers. There was a large crowd of spectators, and the excitement was in- tense, but perfect order was preserved, and every- body manifested the strongest desire that f airplay should be given to the otter, which, from first to last, was neither touched nor interfered with, ex- cept by the hounds and terriers. At the conclu- sion of the hunt, three cheers were given for the hounds, three for the master, and three for Sandy. OTTEE-HUNTING IN THE ALE WITH DE. GEANT'S OTTEEHOUNDS. THE season was most brilliantly inaugurated in Ale water, when the gallant master of the hunt achieved a triumph on which he had long set his OTTER-HUNTING. 9$ heart, long vowed he would some day accomplish, tut which his friends who knew him best and admired him most ever declared could'never be consummated even with all the daring and rare sporting qualifications which distinguish him, and the unexcelled metal, energy, perseverance, and pluck of his hounds and terriers. The drag was at first slow for a mile or two, but it im- proved as the pack went down the river, and had become so fast just before reaching Eiddell that most of the followers on foot were thrown out, but the Doctor and his lad Walter being mounted kept close to the hounds. At length the spot, which proved to be the scene of action, was reached, at a part of the river where there is an overhanging bank for several yards, and the re- treat seems so expressly intended for the otter that it can only be reached by a narrow hole at each end. Eingwood turned on his downward way and at once spoke out the cheerful sound, telling his delighted master that the game was near. The other dogs, excepting the bull dog Billy, were a good way in advance, probably be- cause the varmint had first gone down and then doubled to his retreat. Eingwood made straight for the lower hole, which his huge bulk could not penetrate, as Billy was close after him, and filling up part of the space. Meanwhile the OTTER-HUNTING. 94 Doctor stationed himself at the upper hole, and kept watch and ward up to his waist in water. To his great surprise the otter came out with Teddy the terrier hanging close under his throat, in which the little game one's dentals were grimly fixed. How and where Teddy got below the bank is one of the mysteries that will never be solved, but there he had certainly been to some purpose. The Doctor now saw the opportunity for which he had long waited, of catching a live otter, before him, and clutching the varmint by the neck, he ducked it and the terrier below the surface in hopes of obliging Teddy to quit his grip. Then a desperate struggle took place. Old Malakoff, Ruler, and Royal had just come back to the scene of the fray, and they furiously dashed at the Doctor's live prey, and, though Walter tried his best to keep them off, they resisted his utmost efforts, while master, hounds, and otter continued each struggling for the victory in the deep and rapid running stream. At last Walter got his coat off, and wrapped it round the otter under water, and the Doctor, keeping firm hold with his right hand on its throat, threw his left arm around it, and, clutching it to his breast, made for the land. Here Walter assisted the Doctor on his horse, but still the fierce hounds dashed round him open mouthed, determined to have 95 OTTEE-HUNTIXG. their lawful prey, caring not for the whip which Walter plied most vigorously. At length the Doctor ordered a ruse to withdraw the attention of the pack, and sent Walter off tallyho-ing down the river. The ruse was successful, and the whole pack went off eager for another engagement. They must have found a second drag, for Walter could scarcely get a-head of them, and when he managed it at last, and brought them round, they were a long distance away. Left alone, when the excitement had subsided, the Doctor felt his left hand quite powerless, and discovered, forthe first time, that it had been severely bitten. The var- mint had also left its mark on his arm and breast, but the glorious excitement of the encounter had made him insensible to pain while the wounds were inflicted. The Doctor got home safely with, his prize, a good deal exhausted by the engage- ment, but glorying in the long contemplated achievement of capturing an otter alive. JOHN GALLON. DEDICATED TO J. GRANT, ESQ., THE GALLANT HASTER OF THE TEVIOTDALE OTTER PACK. JOHN GALLON, to whom the following song refers, was drowned in the river Lugar, South Ayrshire, Scot- land, July 16th, 1873, while hunting the otter in com- pany of Morton Macdonald Esq., of Largie Castle, and other famed sportsmen of North Britain. For many years previous to his untimely death, he frequently hunted the Tyne, Eeed, and other rivers of Northumberland. Mr. Turnbull, the renowned otter hunter of North Tyne, for 27 years accompanied Gallon in nearly all his Border hunting excursions. He describes him as the Model Otter Hunter, a man of undaunted courage, and noble daring, a thorough gentleman in manner , of a kind disposition, and a veteran in the hunt. In short, Mr. Turnbull says, kind and good to the last. Frequently has he seen him when the otter was afoot and the hounds in full cry plunge into the deepest pools in pursuit of the sable game ; scorning the use of the spear, he would tail the otter in the centre of the pack, and amidst the loud cheers of his followers bring the prize to land, and, in fair combat, try the courage of some favourite terrier. JOHN GALLON. 97 Long will our Border huntsmen hold in remembrance the name of the gallant but unfortunate gentleman, who lies interred in Elsdon Churchyard, near Otterburn. SOME sing of bold Napoleon, that man of war- like name, Of Wallace, Bruce, and Wellington, all heroes of great fame, Ye otter-hunters one and all, in chorus join with, me, And we will of John Gallon sing, in numbers wild and free. CHOKTJS. Although John Gallon is no more, yet of him. we will sing ; That gallant sportsman to the core, the otter- hunter King. Northumbrians brave and dauntless son so gaily takes his way, To hunt the Lugar's fatal stream at the first break of day. With Starlight, Hop wood, Ringwood too, those hounds of glorious fame; When Ormidale and Waterloo, the otter's drag proclaim. 98 JOHN GALLON. Through, shaggy cleugh, by willow stump, they hunt each hover true ; Old Wellington and Mitf ord still the wily game pursue. The music of each favourite hound the sleeping otter wakes, He dives and tries his wildest shifts as his dark path he takes. The sportsmen all join in the hunt, see where the bells they rise, The otter's up and breathes, hurrah ! the cheers they reach the skies ; He's down again, and down the stream by rugged rock and scaur, The gallant pack pursue their game in imag'ry of war. Through darksome cleft, by thundering linn, are hounds and otter gone ; John Gallon too so bold and true, to follow him not one. But, ! in deep and treacherous pool, unseen to mortal eyes, He's down, the daring hunter brave, he's down no more to rise. No more we'll hear his cherry voice so early in the morn, THE FOXHOUNDS OF SMMETHAJJGH. 99 No more he'll wake the echoes wild, or wind his bugle horn, No more the sportsmen of the North with Gallon will combine To hunt the otter in the streams of Wansbeek, Eeed, and Tyne. THE CELEBEATED FOXHOUNDS OF EMMETHAUGH. SPKTJNG from a race of hounds which confer fame upon the packs of Slaley, Haydon, and Buccleugh ; and shed a halo of hunting glory around the names of Forster, Dodd, Eoutledge, Hedley, Dagg, Eobson, Jackson, Potts, Davison, and Scott, likewise around the name of their gallant owner William Eobson, of Emmethaugh, best known on the Borders by the homely soub- riquet of Lang Will; with whom and many others of the stalwart and wiry type of hunters, that hunt their hounds on foot, the author has had many a glorious foxhunt in the wilds of Kielder, North Tyne, Eeed-water, and Liddes- dale the blood of this famous race of dogs has 100 THE FOXHOUNDS OF EMMETHAUGH. now asserted itself to be the hunting standard of the North, as they possess the scent, wind, pluck, speed, and endurance characteristic of the true Border Foxhound ; and it may be interesting to the reader to learn that Tom Potts, of Burn- mouth, the owner of "Towler" ; and Yeddj Jackson, of Fairloans, (known by the cognomen of the Hunter King,) the owner of " Discord," were both hunting companions of James David- son, of Hindlee, the undoubted prototype of Sir Walter Scott's Dandie Dinmont. GENEALOGY OF THE HOUNDS. MOUDY THE FIRST, by the Eiggend (Tyne) dog, (a draft from the Haydon pack,) Gilbert Forster's " Winder," and out of the Hope House bitch, Walter Dodd's " Kuby." Euby, by a south country dog, and out of the Crook bitch, William Eoutledge's " Lady." Lady, by the Bewshaugh dog, James Hedley's " Euler." MOUDY THE SECOND, by " Moudy the First," and out of the Yarrow Moor bitch, Matthew Dagg's "Euby." Euby, by the Eiggend (Tyne) dog, (a draft from the Slaley pack,) Matthew Forster's "Eanter," and out of the Oakenshaw Burn bitch, Fergus Eobson's "Euby." Euby, by the Burnmouth dog, Tom Potts' " Towler," THE FOXHOUNDS OF EMMETHAUGfl. 11 and out of the Biggend (Kielder) bitch, John Bobson's " Beeswing." Beeswing, by the Emmethaugh dog, William Bobson's " Bag- man," and out of the Fairloans bitch, Yeddy Jackson's " Discord." William Eobson's Bag- man, by the Biggend (Kieldar) dog, (a draft from the Buccleugh pack), John Bobson's " Sealim," and out of the Biggend (Kielder) bitch, John Bobson's " Euby." MOTJDY THE THIRD, (winner of the Silver Cup at Gilsland, on the 22nd of October, 1868; beating a field of fourteen other hounds in a six- teen miles trail, over rough country, and cover- ing the distance in fifty minutes,) by " Moudy the Second," and out of the Whookhope bitch, (a draft from the Haydon pack,) John Davison's "Euby." MOTJDY THE FOURTH, bv " Moudy the Third," and out of the Oakenshaw Burn bitch, James Scott's "Bally." INSCRIBED TO JOSEPH ELLIOTT. THIS celebrated trail hound (the subject of my song) belongs to Mr. John Armstrong of Scotscoltherd, near Haltwhistle, North- umberland. " "Wyndham " was whelped on the 28th of July, 1873, sire "Seizer" of Eedsyke, own brother to " Moudy III.," whose pedigree is given in this volume. (See the celebrated Foxhounds'of Emmethaugh and their genealogy, page 100). Dam of Wyndham " Fateis," belonging to John Armstrong, of Scotscoltherd. Sire of " Fateis" Gilsland "Eoyal." Eoyal, by the Denton dog, Mr. Smith's "Towler," and out of the Eosehill bitch, Thomas Smith's " Charmer." "Towler," by the Samson Inn dog, Thomas Eobson's " Towler," and out of "Doxy," belonging to John Bell. "Charmer" was by the Moscow dog, John Todd's " Dancer," and out of John Bell'* WTNDHAM, 10$ "Doxy." "Dancer" was by the Middleton dog " Spanker/' and out of the Samson Inn bitch, Thomas Bobson's " Buby." Dam of < ' Fateis, ' ' Knarsdale < < Euby . " " "Wyndham " stands 24^ inches at the shoulder, is 28 inches round the body, and weighs 501bs, It may be briefly stated, however, that the many victories achieved by " Wyndham " are, in a great measure, due to the care bestowed by the late Mr Henry Grlenwright, and Mr Joseph Elliott, likewise Mr John Glenwright, in the training of the dog, who, for pluck, speed, and endurance has proved himself to be the best trail hound of his day, as the following records will show : Twice Brewed, 5th June, 1875, 15 dogs, 13 miles, Wyndham third, Langholm, 27th July, 1875, 15 dogs, 8 miles, 17| mins., Wyndham first. Banks, 18th Sept., 1875, 9 dogs, 8 miles, 20 minutes, Wyndham first. Slaggyford, 24th Sept., 1875, 15 dogs, 10 miles, 27 mins. Wyndham first. Greenhead, 25th Sept., 1875, 13 dogs, 9 miles, 21 mins., Wyndham first. Kielder, 1st Oct., 1875, 9 dogs, 16 miles, 41 minutes, Wyndham first. Three Horse Shoes, South Tyne, 15th Oct., 1875, 9 dogs, 10 miles, 20 minutes, Wyndham first, Bewcastle dog second. 104 WYNDHAM. Tarset, 25th Feb., 1876, 14 miles/34 minutes, Ruby first, Wyndham second. Tarset, 10th March, 1876, 9^dogs, 17 miles, 49 minutes, Smoker first, Wyndham second. Stanners Burn, llth March, 1876, 11 dogs, 10 miles, 21 minutes, Wyndham first, Eanger second. King's Bridge Ford, 26th May, 1876, 8 dogs, 9 miles, 2S minutes, Wyndham first, Eandom second. Armathwaite, 5th June, 1876, 10 dogs, 5 miles, 9 minutes, Wyndham first. Armathwaite same day, 12 dogs, 6 miles, 14| minutes, Wyndham first. Troutbeck, 7th June, 1876, 13 dogs, 5 miles, 13 mins., Wyndham first. Troutbeck, same day,]13dogs, 5 miles, 14 minutes, Wyndham first. Langholm, 27th July,^1876, 20 dogs, 6 miles, 18 mins., Wyndham third. Grasmere, 17th Aug., 1876, 20 dogs, 9 miles, 25 mins. Wyndham first, Crowner second, Barmaid third. Slaggyford, 22nd Sept., 1876, 7 dogs, 10 miles, 28 mins. Wyndham first. Greenhead, 23rd Sept., 1876, 7 dogs, 9 miles, 21 mins. Wyndham first. Kielder, 6th Oct., 1876, 11 dogs, 18 miles, 61 minutes, Wyndham first, Irvine's Cleaver second^ Mole's Famey third. Gilsland, 13th Oct., 1876, 13 dogs, 12 miles, 35 minutes, Wyndham first. Three Horse Shoes, South Tyne, 17th Nov., 1876, 5 dogs, 10 miles, 27^ minutes, Wyndham first. WTNDHAM. 105 Alwinton, 27th March, 1877, 14 dogs, 9 miles, 25 mins., Wyndham first, Tinker second. Several of the dogs were thrown off this trail in consequence of coming across the drag of a fox. Alston, 2nd April, 1877, 8 dogs, 8 miles, 26 minutes,. Wyndham third. King's Bridge Ford, 5th April, 1877, 8 dogs, 10 miles, 30 minutes, Music first, Wyndham third. Waterhouse, 14th April, 1877, 14 dogs, 9 miles, 27 minutes, Wyndham first. Burgh Marsh, 30th April, 1877, 13 dogs, 8 miles, 20 minutes, Wyndham first, On the last-named day, the accession of St. George Henry, Earl of Lonsdale, to the title and privileges of Lord of the Barony of Burgh, was celebrated by sports on Burgh. Marsh in accor- dance with the ancient custom. Erom north and south, from east and west, excursionists in thou- sands flocked to the scene of amusement. The Earl of Lonsdale, with a brilliant party, including the Duke of Montrose, the Earl and Countess of Bective, Lord Muncaster, Lord and Lady Hill, the Hon. W. Lowther, M.P., Miss Lowther, the Hon. H. Lowther, and Mrs. Cavendish Bentinck,. went down by the road, decked with yellow roses, which Messrs. E. E. Eairbairn and Son's had had the honour of presenting in the morning. The course was kept by the county police, aided 106 WTNDHAM. by Lord Lonsdale's huntsman, and a couple of his " whips," who, dressed in scarlet coats, mounted on splendid hunters, and armed with hunting whips, rendered valuable assistance in keeping the crowd back, and, on the victory of Wyndham, the excitement was intense, and here, as at Grasmere, Mr. Elliott and the dog were surrounded by lords and ladies, artists, and the general crowd, all eager to get a glimpse of the winner, and it was counted an honour even to touch the gallant hound. Troutbeck, 23rd May, 1877, 8 dogs, 5 miles, 12 mins. Wyndham first. Troutbeck, same day, 7 dogs, 4 miles, 12 minutes, Wyndham first. Twice-Brewed, ,16th June, 1877, 8 miles, 24| minutes, Wyndham first. Gothland, 29th June, 1877, 6 miles straight out, 14 minutes, Wyndham Won by 4 minutes, Center second. From Paddaburn to Kirkcambeck, 19th July, 1877, 10 miles, 25 minutes, Routledge's Ranter first, his Random second, Wyndham third. Langholm, 27th July, 1877, 14 dogs, 7 miles, 17 minutes, Wyndham first. Red Dial^ 1st August, 1877, 5 dogs, 6 miles, 16 minutes, Wyndham first. Talkin Tarn, 6th August, 1877, 13 dogs, 9 miles, 26 mins., Routledge's Ranter first, Wyndham second, Talkin Tarn, same day, 13 dogs, 5 miles, 14 minutes, Routledge's Random first, Wyndham second. WYNDHAM. 107 Grasmere, 23rd August, 1877, 9 miles, 40 minutes, Crowner first, Wyndham second. Langholm, 1st Sept., 1877, 12 dogs, 4 miles, 16 minutes, Cleaver first, Wyndham fourth. Slaggyford, 21st Sept., 1877, 10 dogs, 12 miles, 34 mins. Wyndham won by 5 minutes, 39 seconds. Stanners Burn, 29th Sept., 1877, 12 miles, 35 minutes, "Wyndham won by 4 minutes, Eosehill, 5th October, 1877, 10 miles, 35 minutes, Wyndham first. Newcastleton, 13th October, 1877, 12 dogs, 12 miles, Wyndham first, Cleaver second. Common House, 20th October, 1877, Challenge Medal. Conditions : The winner of the Challenge Medal will be subject to accepting a challenge from any other person for not less than ,10, and within nine days' notice, for the ensuing twelve months. Security must also be given for the refunding of the Medal in case of being beaten within the twelve months. Nine dogs ran, distance 10 miles, time 32 minutes, Wyndham first, Damsel second. No challenge. Shop Ford, 16th Nov., 1877, 7 dogs, 10 miles, 31 mins., Wyndham first, Youns^ Tinker second. Shop Ford, same day, 6 dogs, 5 miles, 15^ minutes, Wyndham first. Moorcock, 15th Feb., 1878, 7 dogs, 9 miles, 29 minutes, Wyndham first. King's Bridge Ford, 22nd March, 1878, 9 miles, 29 mins., Gelderd's Eanter first, Wyndham third. Tarset, 23rd March, 1878, 7 dogs, 16 miles, 60 minutes, Wyndham third. 108 WYNDHAM. Stanners Burn, 29th March, 1878, 7 dogs, 10 miles, 29 minutes, Wyndham first. Lyne Bank, 5th April, 1878, 14 dogs, 10 miles, 28 mins., Wyndham first. Bellingham, 8th May, 1878, 8 dogs, 12 miles, 35 minutes, Wyndham first, Armathwaite, 10th June, 1878, 7 dogs, 4 miles, 13 mins., Wyndham first. Armathwaite, same day, 7 dogs, 4 miles, 13| minutes, Wyndham first. Troutbeck, 12th June, 1878, 7 dogs, 4 miles, 14 mins., Wyndham first. Troutbeck, same day, 7 dogs, 4| miles, 14 minutes, Wyndham first. Langholm, 27th July, 1878, 16 dogs, 7 miles, 20 minutes, Cleaver first, Wyndham fifth. .Newcastleton, 9th August, 1878, 11 dogs, 12 miles, 40 minutes, Young Tinker first, Wyndham second. Common House, 31st August, 1878, 9 dogs, 12 miles, 48 minutes, Young Tinker first, Wyndham second. Common House, same day, 8 dogs, 4 miles, 15 minutes, Wyndham first. Irthing Vale Hunt Meeting, 2nd May, 1879, Mr. Arm- strong's Wyndham first, 18 dogs ran. Abbey Bridge End, Lanercost, 23rd May, 1879, 8 dogs, Wyndham first, Ranter second. Won by a mile. Eoyal Hotel, June 2nd, 1879, 4 dogs, 5 miles, 15 mins., Wyndham first. Penruddock, 2nd June, 2 dogs, 4 miles, 12 minutes. Wyndham first. Troutbeck, June 4, 1879, 6 dogs, 5 miles, 14 minutes, Wyndham first, Music of Carlisle second, 15 mins. WYNDHAM. 109 Troutbeck, same day, 5 dogs, 5 miles, 14 minutes, Wyndham. first, Music of Carlisle second, 16 mins. Kirby Stephen, 5th June, 1879, 4 dogs, 9 miles, 33 mins., Wyndham first, Eattler (out of Barmaid) second, 40 minutes. Melkridge, 20th Sept., 1879, 8 miles, 7 dogs, 23 mins., Wyndham won by 2 minutes. Slaggyford, 26th Sept., 1879, 10 miles, 7 dogs, 27 mins., Wyndham won by 200 yards. CUPS. Below is a list of the Cups won by Wyndham, bearing the following inscriptions : Langham Hound Eace, 1875, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Kielder Hound Eace, 1875, John Armstrong's Wyndham. South Tyne Hound Eace, 1876, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Greenhead Hound Eace, 1876, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Kielder Hound Eace, 1876, John Armstrong's Wyndham. Presented by Mr. William Sharp, of Park House, to the South Tyne Hound Eace, 1876, John Armstrong's Wyndham. Twice Brewed Hound Eace, 1877, |John Armstrong's Wyndham. 110 WTNDHAM. Langham Hound Eace, 1877, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Eed Dial Hound Eace, 1877, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Newcastleton Hound Eace, 1877, John Armstrong's Wyndham. Shop Ford Hound Eace, 1877, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Lyne Bank Hound Eace, 1878, John Armstrong's Wynd- ham. Royal Hotel, Matterdale, 1879, John Armstrong'* W^yndham. YE gallant sportsmen one and all, whoever that you be, That love a foxhunt and a trail, in chorus join with me, And we will of a trail dog sing, a hound of glorious fame, John Armstrong is his owner and Wyndham is his name. CHORUS. Success to bonnie Wyndham, that fleet and gallant hound; He's won his weight in cups and gold, and is with glory crowned. At Langholm and Newcastleton, he prov'd his speed so true ; WYNDHAM. 1H At Stanners Burn and Alwinton, South Tyne and Kielder too ; At Gilsland, and at Shopford, and Slaggyford likewise ; At Troutbeck, and at Kingbrig Ford, lie bore away the prize. Then again at Grasmere, the hounds are now in sight, And bounding hearts in gallant breasts expand- ing with delight, The cheers of thousands rent the air upon that glorious day, When bonnie Wyndham beat the field, and took the prize away. Then look at him at Burgh Marsh, when all the hounds of fame, To try their speed with Wyndham, from far and near they came ; de gallant hound outstrips them all, as o'er the sward he nies ; Hurrah! hurrah! he wins again, the cheers they reach the skies. Little "Fateis" was his dam, and "Seizer"wa* his sire, 112 THE KIELDER HUNT. From them he got his wind and speed, from them he got his fire, For all the cups that he has won, and prizes too in gold, On the hunting scroll of fame his name it is en- roll'd. Then here's to every trail dog that has with Wyndham run, Their owners and their trainers, here's to them every one ; And likewise to our Border sports, I hope they'll never fail, Long life to every one that likes a foxhunt and a trail. aint DEDICATED TO JOHN KOBSON. |[HAKK! hark! I hear Lang Will's clear voice sound through the Kielder glen, Where the raven flaps her glossy wing and the fell fox has his den ; THE KIELDEB HUNT. 113 There the shepherds they are gathering up wi* monie a guid yauld grew, An' wiry terrier game an' keen, an' fox-hund fleet and true. CHORUS. Hark away ! hark away ! O'er the Bonnie Hills o' Kielder, hark away. There's Moudy frae Emmethaugh an' Royal frae Bakethinn, There's hunds frae Reed an' Kielderhead, an. 7 Ruby by the Linn ; An' nunds of fame fraelrthingside, they try baiti. moss an' crag, Hark ! hark! that's Moudy's loud clear note, he has bold Reynard's drag. Away an' away o'er hill and dale, an* up by yonder stell, The music o' the gallant pack resounds o'er muir an' dell ; See yon herd callant waves his plaid, list yon loud tally-ho, The fox is up an' breaks away o'er the edge o* Hawkhope Mowe, 114? THE KIELDER HUNT. Hark forrit, hark ! ye gallant hunds, hark on- warfc, hark away, He kens the hands on Tosson hills, ho kens the holes at Rae ; There's no a den roun* the Kails fcane but he kens weel I trow, An' a* the holes on Lariston he kens them thro* and thro*, There's "Wanriys Crags, an' Sewingshields, and Christenbury too, Or if he win to Hareshaw Linn ye may bid him adieu ; The Key-Hough an' the Cloven-Crags, the Cove, an* Barnaha', Chatlehope- Spout an' the Wily-holes, auld foxy kens them a\ Away an' away o'er bank an 1 >>ra> they drive the wily game, Where Moudy, Euby, fvoyal still uphaud their glorious fame; An' see the lish yald shepherd lads how Monk- side heights they climb, They're the pride o a' the borders wide for wind and -*>jry limb. Thro' yon wild glen they view him now right for the Yearning Linn, LETTERS TO THE AUTHOR. 115 By cairn an' crag, o er moss and hagg, sae glorious is the din ; Weeldune, hurrah! they've runhimdoun. yon's Moudy twirls him now, The hunt is dune, his brush is wun, I hear the death hal-loo. Here's to Will o 1 EmmeQiaugh, ho is a sports- man true, Here's to Bobie o'Bakethinn, an' Bob o' Kiolder, too ; At the Hope, Bewshaugh, an' Kersie Cleuch, Skaup, Eiggend, an' the Law, In Tyne, an' Eeed, and Irthinghead, they're gallant sportsmen a*. LETTEES TO THE AUTHOR. Hawick, Saturday Night* BEAR MR. ARMSTRONG, I have carefully compared your proof \vitli my Ecccrds, and also -with "otone- henge/' and find t!io genealogy cf t'xo Dandle Din- monts strictly correct. I turned up some old reprints by accident the other day, of which there are a few on Otterhuafcing. 11C LETTERS TO THE AUTHOR. It appears that iny heart disease had been gaining ground, and my health falling off from it, as far back as 1863, so it is no wonder I am now so completely winged. Ever yours truly, JOHN GRANT. THE DAXDIE DIXMOXTS. Copy of Letter from Lieut. Colonel Cust to the Author, Jan. 31, 1879. Harewood Bridge, Harewood, Leeds, MB. ARMSTRONG, I have been a long time returning you all the letters and papers you sent me about the t( Dandie Dinmont Terriers," but I assure you I have read them with the greatest interest. I have taken the liberty of copying out your points of a Dandie. I hope you will not object my having done so, but if you do I will destroy it. I think you should send to "The Field" the points of the Dandie Terrier, for really the nonsense that has been written about them is past everything. I recollect some years ago, Mr Nicholl Milne, of Faldonside, having what he called pure Dandies, and Mr James Kerss, gamekeeper, of Bowhill, also, but they were not the least like your puppy, or like one another. Your puppy (or rather my puppy now), has a good blue-grey coat, black claws, good dark hazel coloured eyes as bright as diamonds, with good strong legs, and a long, low, strong body ; he is growing as level as possible, and is a famous little fellow. Mr Milne's dogs were more fawn than mustard, en a longer leg, with a shorter back than your breed, LETTERS T9 THE AUTHOR. 117 and rather a less broken coat. Mr Kerss's, on the con- trary, were of a light fawn colour, with very silky coats and nasty short jaws, with round heads like frogs, very hard and very quarrelsome, and yet not capable from the nature of the coat to stand real cold. The hair was more like a soft flaxen wig. I have had many a hunt both on the English and Scotch Border hills after the foxes with the hounds at Langholm, Old Kyle of Broadlee ; Ballantine, of Shaws ; Eobson, of Kielder, and his brother of Lowshield Green. Old Kyle's favourite hound Bingwood alwa;y s slept in his bed. 1 fear much of this good old Border sport has not gone on of late years as it used to do formerly, for some reason or other. From the photograph you sent me of Dr. Grant, I think he must have been the son of my old friend Dr. Grant, a fine hale sportsman of sixty or so. Twenty years ago he used to hunt with the Duke of Buccleuch's hounds, and was famed for his terriers. You had better let me know when you have another litter of Dandies to dispose of. Yours truly, J. FRANCIS CUST. MR. ARMSTRONG. COPY OF AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM THE COUNTESS OF DARWENTWATER TO THE AUTHOR. The Countess of Darwentwater thanks Mr Armstrong for his poetical lines, and furthermore will remember with grateful recollection the homage he offers to the memory of her chivalrous great grandfather, James, Third Earl of Darwentwater, who died a martyr for his country, his king, and the truth, on the 24th of 118 LETTERS TO THE AUTHOR. February, 1716. Mr Armstrong's verses awaken feelings of emotion in the Couutess who could wish the following could be written in gold on tho royal door at Windsor Castlo, to remind Kiugs and Queens that mercy a"-d justice is their mission hero on earth. Is it a King the woful widow hears ? Is iu a King drys up the orphan's tc-ars ? Is it a King regards the clyonts cry. Gives life to him by law condomn'd to die ? I send an abridged pedigree, \7hich is better than the one you have from the newspaper slip. I beg of you to rcadtho If on. "William Radcliffe's last will the original covers nine sheets of parch to ent written in a fine style of Christian language, jlc was one of the trustees for my grandfather. The sheet which covered the Earl is a sad relic to look upon, which I am in possession of. A. C. of D . Temperance Hotel, Innerl3ithen, Dec. 13th, 1877. T.MS^B^NG, I am sometimes wondering if your Border harp is now unstrung, as I have seen nothing from your truly poetic pen since the publication of " Wanny Blossoms." I have enjoyed the reading of these " j)iossor/js" over and over again. Therefore, I hope that you ara still on the Mount of Parnassus, and that you will continue to sing of your na.tive Border- land. Does your muse never think of >vmging across the Bonier line into the laud of the Armstrongs, the land of your sires, or has your branch of the clan been so long on the southern side as to induce you to forego LETTERS TO THE AUTHOR. 119 all connection with, our Scottish side. May I ask what has become of y/>ur true heroine " Lizzie Storey," she who you have so tenderly and becomingly embalmed in song. I iray tsll you that I have long been considerably interested in the exploits and haunts of the Old Border Smugglers, Now I see that in your volumo you mention the " Whisky Syke." Could you kindly favour me with the traditions (if any) about the " Syko ; " how it got the name, and where it is. Excuse me for troubling you, but believe me to be, yours truly, ROBERT GALLANT BUN WITH THE NOETH TYNE AND IKTHINGHEAD HOUNDS. [THE following description of a foxhunt and a day with the hounds were contributed to the papers sometime ago by the writer -, and at the request of my hunting friends, I give them both as a reprint.] " DEATH OF "BTJKNT TOM." Arouse, " Burnt Tom," my game oldjfox, the last time from thy den, 3Tor Lang Will's voice is sounding far through Leas* burn's shaggy glen, He's cheering on the gallant hounds, I hear fleet Moudy's cry, Take thy last look of cairn and brook, ere sunset thoH shalt die. The hounds were uncoupled at Cranecleugh, on Tuesday morning, when they soon found a drag, hunting it slowly over the heights to Leasburn, but it is too old and cold. Let^us lift them, and try down by the Forks, where the holes are GALLANT RUN .WITH THE HOUNDS. 121 barred. Presently they give tongue that makes music fit to lift your cap, and tells that the scent is new and warm. Away they go, streaming over the knowes. heads up ; that's him, King- wood lad. Hark! together, hark! Tallyhol he's away, and, by Jove, it's "Burnt Tom," the very fox that beat the dogs so often last year. Yonder he goes, with the beauties at his ken- specklt brush, through the deer park, and past Mouncies. They will kill him ; not yet, he's on past Otterstone Lea, Away, away, o'er bank and brae, they drive the wily game. Where Moudy, Buby, Boyal, still uphold their glorious fame. He means either Whickhope Linn, or the holes above Emrnethaugh. He takes the "east; they are nearest. Well done, Tom, but are you safe? Wait awhile, here comes Jock o 5 the_Houp, with Venom, and in she goes, and comes out sorely dragglt. She cannot find him, shakes herself ,. and in again. There is a noise in the hole, the terrier has found him. Now, silence, and he'll maybe leap ; there he's out. Euby and^Boyal make a dash at him, but he clears J;hem among the scroggs, and boldly faces the steep^brae, and on to the open bent with all the hounds after him. Isn't yon glorious ! Yonder they go, back past Otterstone Lea and Mouncies again. See 122 GALLANT RUN WITII THE HOUNDS. yon lad of Yarrow, lie's going like tKe wind, leaving Matt of Otterstone Lea, Torn Breckney, and Wannio, but Matt is sair hoppled ; lie has a grew in a string, and the clogs on, but take time, he will got the galloway if he was at the house ; but, ah ! waes me, his sister has been out for a morning scamper, her faither has met her, and he's on to the beast, and away after the " hunds." " The doil tak' me faither, hell kill the galloway. lie's sixteen stane cnyway, forebye the heavy side saddle.'' The gallant little pack are still crushing on their fox, aiming now for Kersenberrie, or maybe Lisha holes, or Witch Linn. But they are too far, so he changes his course, and tries the holes at the Forks. Ha ! niy old boy, there is a sneck be- fore thy sncut. Away down the glen, his re- lentless pursuers hot on him, past Ferny Knowe, and into Looie wood, where they rattle him round for a while, then all is silent. Is it a kill, or is he lost ? Try the scroggs, rough heather, and all the likely ling. Sweep the hounds round the outside of the wood. Silent still; lost he must be, but how or where? Try again, it is useless wishing better luck next time. There is nothing but home for us. The guid- wif e of Looie is coming out of the byre, when Lang Will shouts u my woman, hae ye seen GALLANT HUN WITH THE HOUNDS. 123 aucht o' the fox ?" "Fox, aye, losh, man lie's in the byre here, lying afore the cow ; but o* man, Will, dinria kill the puir beastie." But Will was soon into the byre and out again with the beastie in his brawny hand, soothing the feel- ings of the good woman with the assurance that the fox should have a fair chance for his life. " Now, get hauld o' the huns," while Will slips him quietly over the dyke into the haugh. But the dogs wind their game once more, and are bad to hold. They let them away. See they are on him again, full cry, through the wood and past Ferny Knowe again; over the hill, down to the burn, and along the edge of the shingles. Go into him now, my dogs of war. The blood of old Moudy for over. Over the burn, and on to the top of the scaur. Over he goes, hounds and all, where they ran into as fine a specimen of the greyhound fox as ever footed the heather. The " steekers" in are now up, let us see who we have. Here is Jock o* the Houp, Matt o' Otterstone Lea, and Jimmie Sisterson of Yarrow, three wiry-looking lads, fleet as deer, and winded as Arabs ; Alain of Smail, Tom Armstrong, Wannie, Toin Lowrie, Lang Will, W. Little, and Mitt of Cranecleugh, his homespun grey belted with a pair of couples over a back like a barn board, and a breast like 124 THE MORNING DRAG. a-Kyloe bullock. With liearty acclamation the skin of the devoted fox is awarded to Wannie, who sends it away to be preserved, and the many grand hunts with "Burnt Tom/* and" the last run for his life, will long be remembered in North Tyne. AIR: " Whittle Scroggs." COME away with me my boys, once for hunting The hounds o'er the bent they are bounding, Away by yonder crag, they are on the morning drag, So sweetly their music is sounding. Then listen to each hound as they try the rimey ground, Hark ! to Moudy's loud note in the number; It's Lang Will's voice we hear, the gallant pack to cheer, That will waken the fox from his slumber. A DAY WITH THE HOUNDS. 125 That's Seizer calls him now, Ringwood and Royal too, And Ruby's clear note is proclaiming That the drag is new and warm, our hounding hearts to charm, For the wild Christenbury no\* aiming. Through the scroggy glen, how they hunt him. to his den, Shall be told both in song and in story, And when the fox shall die, our shouts will reach the sky, Then each sportsman will be in his glory. A DAY WITH THE NORTH TYNE AND IRTHINGHEAD FOX BOUNDS. AT the Whisky Syke the hounds were lows'd by Walter Dodd, the gallant huntsman of the pack, where, spreading away to the hill of Burnt Tom, they hit off a cold drag, hunting it slowly but surely past Yet Burn Spout and Upper Longhouse. At this time we hear tailyho in the direction of 126 A PAT WITH THE HOUNDS. Christenbury Crags, where a- for !j->d been seen stealicp; away, but tho hounds, trw to their own instirct, keep oa the old drag up LLO Leer Ili^g", and across Lewisburn, win die g away op Merlin's Clench, v/here the notes of the boas lies waken bold Reynard from his slumbers, and they view him a\vay. leavin-r Glendue to the left, the music of the gallant pack ringing far and Tvido, bringing the footrneii "frae a' the airts the wji* 7 rail blav/," some from the heights above Be\vc^silc, and some from the heathc;y crests overlccliiri-; Idddosdale. Fox and do.^s are now on the O'vlrenslrs-w side of the hill ever bciil, and broken bn.es, n aj: the burn at a killing* pace, en to the heights arc 1 past Elliot's Pikes, where "my nabs" ran to ground. What is to le doi-je? Must w& try if he vail bolt? Yes; Lfie is "Tommy" the Bew.sh^ugh terrier, that remmds us of an otte r with his icrr body and short krs, a rf;?*! Dai; die DiLincnt all over ; he is in, and quickly chfal3eog;ee> the ^a::s, lut Tommy is too hip; and cannot et up to the in ark. It is perhaps z$ v?dl foi the fcx, as tfci.ro is danger in those fiery ej'es and cruel-lockij r jav/s. Try Wasp, of Tarnbecks. She is a-fc hirc, hot conies out agair, apparently not liking 1 the job, but in a short time returns to the attack, and closes with him this time. Call back the licur.ds, and keep quiet; ycn.!er he is out. u Ycucg Mcudy," a A DAT WITH THE HOUNDS. 127 pup of eight months, is laid on, and it (earing away an I giving mouth gr >nily, reminding us of the glorias dsys of his illustrious sire, old "Moudj," of Emrnethaugh, and equally cele- brated M Scizer " f of Bedsyke. The rest of the dogs are nov 7 laid on, and are down to the burn in full cry, vrhen a trial of speed aiaorg the shep- herd lads takes place in anticipation of tho brush. The chase is fast and furious, and the fox, finding his pursuers too near him, turns up the syke and takes refa c 3 IL some rocks near the Willow Bog. The tenie; brigade are again brought up, and lay siege to ih-? or.cmy, but it is useless. Cut he will not come, and appears to have made- up his mind to ciic ratLcr thai! again try his speed before the remorse 'eo> fee a- siting him outside, e^ger for his blood. " tlov/king" tools are bronchi from the house, likewise a good supply of " s!'..rkr.ing" and mountain dew. Work now commences in earnest; Wasp luarks him, and an opening ia made to the spot, but he shifts. The terrier is at him again, ai.d comes out with a slight scratch en the nose. Reisyke, with a sly smi e, ie;narks, "Marcy, Jhmni'3, hoo she's punish'd ! " The slit of the crag is aov/ opened, Rock, the Rcdsyke terrier, is mw put in, an 'I, as if to reverpe past defeats and insults, at once goes into his fox, when f ** Seizer/' circ of Wyndham, the renowned trail hound. 128 A DAY WITH THE HOUNDS. a real battle royal takes place, and they are at a dead lock. Tarnbecks creeps in. tails the terrier, and draws the combatants to the light of day. The hounds are again collared, and the fox carried down the brae. Now he is off, hounds, hunters, collies, terriers, all in full chorus and hot pursuit, in true imagery of war. Royal of Tarnbecks is leading. Well done the Scotscoltherd dog passes him. Now Ruby of The Hope is past them both ; Tarnbeck Scott is running like a redskin, as if he would outstrip both the hounds and the Oaken- shaw lad that set away the fox; wild are the shouts and glorious is the din. "Hurrah !" there is the death hallo it is over and Watt of Oaken- haw Burn takes the coveted fur. INSCRIBED TO THOMAS ARMSTRONG, THE CELEBRATED FOXHTJNTER OF NORTH TYNE. Tlie various incidents described in the following song- occurred at the famous foxhunt held at Earls Seat, 20th March, 1875. The brilliant run was witnessed by the writ or, who also was in the midst of the fun at the finish. THE Tarset men a hunting went, Sae early in the morn? WT Ruby, Boyal, Windham, too, Away by Hunter Burn. Tho joyfu' soond of horn an' liund, Ilous'd reynard frae the rocks, At break o' day they view'd away A Tarsettearian Fox. Over hills, thro' dusky dells, By monie a cairn and scaur, The little pack pursue their game, Like gallant dogs of war, Till on the Belling' s shaggy brow Some o' the glaiky brocks Did scrauch an' shoot, an* scar aboot, That Tarsettearian Eox. 130 THE TARSfcTTEARIAN FOX. Away o'er bent an' heathery heights, The dogs and fox are gane; Till little Kuby o' the Kame Was huntin' him alane. When in the shire of Donkleywood, The Tyne lads cam in flocks ; Horse, fut, an' him' join'd in the run Of that Tarsettearian Fox. Keynard noo ance mair heads back Straight for his hielan' sheil ; Frae monie a scrauch an' f earf u' yell, Eneuch to flay the deil. He leaves them a', far, far awa', Hunds, Sandys, Wulls, and Jocks, ! joy of joys, he's hol'd, my boys, That Tarsettearian Fox. The hunds an' hunters then cam up, The howkin it began ; Some swore the fox should hae fair-play, Some wanted a neck hunn. Then Andra E-obson rampit oot, Sic thunnerin stanes in blocks ; He ript the haggs and splet the crags, For that Tarsettearian Fox. Stand back ! stand back ! then some did shoo When the terriers were set in ; THE TARSETTEARIAN FOX 131 The gallant fox was bagg'd at last, The fun it did begin. The Tyne lads and the Tarset men They neckit like game cocks, " Kame Wully" stud stagnatit see Ower that Tar sett earian Fox. Tom Armstrong grippit still his game, Ye never saw sic fun, That Yarrow cheil, Jim Sisterson, Spanghew'd a Tarset hun'. The Meun gript Moffat by the neck, An' swore he'd clean their clocks, Some gat the skin peel'd off their shin Ower that Tarsettearian Fox. Peace was then proclaimed ance mair, The fox was set away ; Horse, fut, an' hunds, a' after him, In wild and grand array. But frae the rush he sav'd his brush, And hol'd in yonder rocks ; An 7 hid his nose frae frien's and foes, That Tarsettearian Fox. sf Witt ppr. The subject of the following song is a Terrier dog; that was banished, by order of the Gamekeeper, from Kielderhead, on account of its supposed poaching pro- pensities. The poor animal subsequently found a home at the Shaws in Liddesdale. WEE Piper lie wander' d awa, And far up Whyte Kielder did daunder, He nozzl't a rabbit or twa, For the sake o' the fun an' the plunder. Black Sandy seun heard o' the raid, An' swore he wad hang the wee huel ; A gallows sae hie then he made, To fulfil his fell purpose sae cruel. That Piper had trespass'd sae far, Of that there could be no denial; The herds then stud up for the Tarr, And threep'd he should hae a fair trial. Then Piper was put in the box, Wi' his tail round his claws like a cat ; Still hoping the frasy might turn out a hoax, Wi' patience puir fallow he sat. THE TRIAL OF WEE PIPER 133 If Lucas had been on the bench, Some slight hopes o' mercy might been ; But the case must be tried by the law that ia Lynch, Where mercy is not to be seen. Then guilty or not, the question was put, But the prisoner said not a word ; The jury then saw that his conscience was cut, When they cried oot, he's guilty my Lord. 'The evidence then was summed up, An' justice well'd up to the brim ; f When Sandy gat up an' put on the black cap, To pronounce the dread sentence on him. : Will o' West Kielder sat pale as the moon, In suspense he did keep in his breath ; [using the while if nought could be done To ward off the fell sentence of death. phen Mitt o' Skaup sae bauldly stood up, An' spak oot sae free an' sae ready, That lie'd kend wee Piper sin he was a pup, An' aye thought him sae harmless it did he. jThen Sandy he paused an 7 to Piper said, Your death will be no gain to me ; And by what Mitt has said, your life will be sav'd, But you shall be sent o'er the sea. 134 WEE PIPER'S LETTER. The case it is proven, the verdict is given, That you've been the cause o' this strife, And to-morrow at sunrise, you off shall be driven, For the term of your natural life. fcer'a Setter. Noo, Wully, my man, when this comes to han', Ye'll be thinkin' I'm ower the wotter, But I gae them the slip an' lap oot o' the ship, And swam to the land like an otter. An' I've trampit thro' touns whairill-deedylouns Shoutit Peachim, an' Pincher, an' Viper, An' man, Wull, sic dougs wi' short cuttit lugs I thocht they wad eaten Wee Piper. I waddl't away by nicht an' by day, O'er crags, thro' moss-haggs, an' lang heather, Till I wan to the Shaws, gae thin i' the jaws, An' the skin aff my feet a' thegither ; Sae couthiely then they cried on me ben An' a cheil bein' here frae the Kinmont, Wha kens a' my kin frae the Knott to Bakethinn, An' he threeps I'm a real Dandie Dinmont. WEE PIPER'S LETTER. 135 Here's milk an' here's meal, an' braxie as weel, And the Laird is a gallant f oxhunter ; Here's horses an' hun's an' cudgels an' guns, Sae I'm safe frae Black Sandy this wunter. I heard the Laird swear, if Sandy comes here, He shall rue that he ever left Eiddle, For he'll lowse every hun', and he'll bet fifty pun', That he never mair crosses the Liddel. An' Willie, my man, I've fixt on a plan, And I'll tell ye my mind in a blinkin', I ken o' a ploy that'll suit ye, my boy, An' monie mair tae, I'm thinkin'. We'll raise a' the hun's an' ilk tyke that runs, An' a' the yauld hunters, my mannie, Bouse Liddel an' Heed, an' a' the Tyne-head, An' we'll hae a graun' huntin' wi' Sawnie. House a' swoft o' fit bring Jock, Gead, an' Mitt, An' Bowman, an' Ned, an' the Pether ; To the fun an' the din the Daggs '11 a' rin' Like bucks spankin' ower the heather. Seek the Skinner an' Jim, an' Larry, bring him, " Let the day be a regular fielder;"* Seek Wull-o'-the-Haw, an' Wannie an' a', An' we'll hunt Sandy oot o' the Kielder. * Quotation from Mr Milburn. 136 THE FISHIN', MY LAD, POSTSCRIPT. Seek Yed o' E-avenshill, an' Rob an' Lang Will, Auld Jowhn o' the Houp, an* Lang Sally, j- An' Eob o' Bakethinn I ken he'll steek in, To ie the Black Loon a guid rally. Bring ilka guid Tarr an' a' dougs o' war, An' Clapperton tae, an' auld Tartar ; At first peep o' day we'll set Sandy away, And hunt him richt ower the Gairter. BY the clear winding streamlet the daisy now springs, On the soft mossy brae-side the sweet primrose hings; Wi' the cowslip an' gowan the green-sward is clad, Sae we'll away off to the fishin', my lad, CHORUS. The fishin', my lad, the fishin', my lad, Well away off to the fishin', my lad. We'll gan to the streams where there's fun to be had, Then come on wi' me to the fishin' my lad. f William Dodd, of Cairnsyke, the famous foxhunter. THE WONDERFUL BOOK. 137" Wi' the bonnie red-hackle an' dotterel sae fine, An black speyder too, lad, we'll tackle wer line. The lavrock is singin' sae joyfu' and glad, Then come on wi' me to the fishin', my lad. In the Reed an' the Wansbeck, the bonnie iroot thrives ; In yon lang penis an' streams, where the dun otter dives, It's there, where the big yellow-fin bends the gad, Then come on wi' me to the fishin', my lad. In the Jed, an* the Liddel, and Coquet sae clear,- North Tyne an' Whyte Kielder, there's troots never fear. We'll gan to the streams where there's fun to be had, Then come on wi ? me to the fishin', my lad. " SOUND the trumpet, beat the drum," The Wonderful Book at last is come ; Toot, toot thy horn, oh, glorious fame ! Frae pole to pole my praise proclaim. 138 THE WONDERFUL BOOK. Frae north to south, from east to west, O'er every hill and mountain's crest ; It's the queerest book, sirs, ever ye saw, By Curly Jock and Wull o' the Eaw. But I'll confess and tell ye plain, Half o' the verses are no my ain ; Frae Burns I've stown monie a line, An' Tannahill too, an' ca'd them mine. And weav'd them deftly thro' an' thro', Wi' sanctified warps an' wifts o' blue ; Sae then buck-up baith ane an a', For Curly Jock and Wull o' the Eaw. The queerest trick, sirs, ever I play'd, Since I began the rhymin' trade ; When frae Drumlee I stole, ye ken, Wee Piper's farewell to Kielder Glen. Od! Wull says I, at last incog, That's ower guid for onie dog ; To the shepherd's farewell I weav'd it braw, An' then cried weal deun Wull o' the Eaw, To the Herald then the lines I sent, Sae sleek an slee for them to prent ; But ah ! waes me, that prenter's deil, And Dandie Dinmont awfu' cheil, HAUDAWAT GEORDY. 139 In next week's sheet they plain tauld me I'd stown some verses frae Drumlee, Eha ! I seyght when the trickthey saw, An' cried that's fearfu' Wall o' the Eaw. Ne'er heed nae mair, the brasses I'll chip, Wi' Pearson girnin' at my hip ; A braw lord yet, I'll be that's shoor, And think nae mair of Shafto Moor. My lass sail be a lady grand, Wi' diamond rings on every hand, Her beautiful figure will grace my ha* Then ye'll touch yer caps to Wull o' the Eaw, CUM sit thou doon my canny lad, Th' trowth ta thou aw'll tell man ; Aw' 11 let thou hear a canny bit sang AVe meade aboot mawsel man. Th' penny readins '11 seun be here, When aw'll sing leyke onie bordie ; Jf.n when aw gie them th' graybord-hop, They'll a' shoot Haudaway Greordy. 140 HAUDAWAY GEORDY. KOBOS. Aw can kurb, en nick, en set a prop, En sing leyke onie bordie; En when aw gie them th' graybord hop, They a' shoot Haudaway Geordy. "When aw gans in for a pint eh beer, Wad onie body think, man ; Sum shoots Geordy sing es a sang, En sum shoots Geordy, drink man. Then aw sing th' Tinmith Trip, Or else the Hurdy Gurdy ; When they loup up aheet, en clap thor han's, En a' shoot Haudaway Geordy. Wey, they talk iv Eobin Burns's sangs, En Moore's, en wor Jim's tee, man; En Eamsay's, Hogg's, en Tannahill's, Wey thor nut worth eh flee, man. Me en maw marra when in at wark, At thaim we've tried wor hand, man, Still thor's summick in thim yet We nivor can understand, man. Thair'sth' Lassie wi' th' Linty Locks, En th' bonnie hoos' iv Airlie ; On yon Hills are maw Fleecy Flocks, En ower the Wetter to Chairlie. HAUDAWAY GEORDY. 141 En Skott it did for Wallace bleed, En the Braes abean Benawe, man ; Tli' Keelder Hunt en Wanny's en a', Hu, thor nout leyke sangs et a' man. Bit thors yen thay ca' th' Big Meat Pie, Man it mun be a stunner ; En if aw nobbit hed that sang, Aw'l gar them laff leyke thunner. En when thay shoot back, cum back, Aw gie them, nu let me see, man, That's it begocks, aw hev hor noo, Aw'll gie them aw's on th' spree, man. It wis doon at th' Faastean last year, When on th' stage thay gat ma ; Aw hard them say that's eh canny leyke lad, En th' lasses a' leukt at ma. Then aw ga them the graybord hop, When the band play'd on th' Kordy; Th' gam wis on when thay clapt thor han's, En a' shootit Haudaway Geordy. On th' Tewsday last at fower o'clock, Aw gat eh grand luv letter, Frev a canny lass, hor neam aw'll not tell, But aw knaw she leeves doon th' wetter, 142 JOHNNIE THE CALLER. Aye here it is thou can see for tha sel, It's hor han' maw cumley bordie; In en oot, en roond aboot, It's a' ritten Haudaway Geordy. If th' readins wis nobbit here agean, Thou'll see ma neam in th' papers ; Th' play-hoos en threeator tee, They say av stopt their capers. They'll tell when aw sang Jack's cum Bad , En then the Hurdy Ghirdy ; Hoo aw finisht up wi' th' graybord hop, En they a' shootit Haudaway Geordy. J0|nwie i\t Caller, INSCRIBED TO JOHN DOVELIN, WITH HIS PERMISSION* SOME sing of Johnnie the Ploughboy, And some of Johnnie the Bellman ; But rambling Johnnie frae Cumberland, He does them far excel, man. Johnnie is just five feet three, Neither short nor taller ; Thirteen stane an' pund or twee, Johnnie the Plashetts Caller. JOHNNIE THE CALLER. 143 CHORUS. Johnnie' s a brick, wi' his thunnerin' stick He lays on like a waller ; Get up my cock, it's three o'clock, Cries Johnnie the Plashetts Caller. Johnnie rises like a lark, Sae early in the morning ; To rouse the foreshift men to wark, The wildest weather scorning. His club he swings sae bold and free, My boys, he is a mauler ; Locks and bolts, he makes them flee, Johnnie the Plashetts Caller. Johnnie's been a roving blade, Been a' thro' France an' Spain, lad ; On board a British Man o' War, He's plough' d the raging main lad, An thrasht our foes, you may suppose, Tho' Johnnie is nae brawler ; On land an' wave a hero brave, Is Johnnie the Plashetts Caller. Johnnie 's ship she went wreck, To the boats they had to fly, lad; The gallant crew sae brave and true Cast lots who had to die, lad. 4 THE'STilEAMS O* THE WEST. ] The fatal lot on Jolinnie fell, 0, then blame him who can, lad, He jumpt into the raging sea, And swam to the Isle o' Man, lad. Johnnie can make a raspin' speech, An' tells o' sharks and whales, lad; Great gorillas, crocodiles, An' big sea-serpents' tails, lad. Bears an' lions, tigers too, Faix, Johnnie is nae drawler, But boldly stands and waves his hands, Hurrah for Johnnie the Caller. |e Stems 0' % W&tsi The publication of the following song in the JTexham JETerald, May 18th, 1872, originated a poetical con- troversy, chiefly between IVIr. James Anderson, the bard of Throckley, and the Author, in which several poets of no mean order took an active part. The poems composing the controversy appeared partly in The Nortfi of England A ivertiser, Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, and Hexham Herald. The Author considers himself justified, in vindication of his rights, in insert- ing the poems ; and he sincerely trusts that, should his readers feel any repugnance at the strong invec- used in his . replies, they will bear in mind that his opponent attacked him in a most unmanly and covert manner, hinting at the Author's family mis- fortune in such pointed language as to rouse and call forth the innermost ire of every true man's heart. WE'LL away to the West, where the lavrock on high Is singing a love song o' sweet liberty, THE STREAMS O* THE WEST. 145 Where the wild thyme smells sweetly on yon bonnie glen, An' the noops grow in plenty round the fell foxes' den. We'll away up by ^annup, where the fleecy flocks feed, We'll fish the White Kielder, the Jed, an' the Reed, Where there's fine yellow trouts, lad, and fish- ing the best, Away in the bonnie clear Streams o' the West. Then seek out thy tackle, thy creel, an' thy gad, An' we'll ower the mosses sae lightsome an' glad, Where the wild heather-bleater on high quiver- ing wing, An' curlew an' plover gars a' the fells ring ; Where the blackcock croos proud on his ain benty knowe, An' the wee grey mosscheeper trills cheerie, I trow ; but it's gladsome on the mountain's wild crest, Away by the bonnie clear Streams o' the West. An' then there's the Esk an' the Liddel sae fine, The Slitrig, the Teviot, an' bonnie North Tyne, 146 THE STREAMS O' THE WEST. The Ewes, an' the Yarrow, an' Ettrick an' a', Comes wimplin' by monie a fair now'ry shaw; Where we'll nmg the neo lightly in linn and in stream, An' twirl the trout deftly when his yellow fins gleam ; While the throssel sings clear to his mate in her nest, Away by the bonnie clear Streams o' the West. Sae blythesome we'll wander where the dew's sparkling sheen Is shimmering in grandeur on the fairy-like scene, Where the primrose peeps out frae the moss- covered brae, An' the cowslip an' gowan sae lovely to see. When the sun hides his glory, ance mair in our dreams The bright spangl'd beauties we'll wile frae the streams, Then joyfu' well wauken frae Nature's sweet breast, Away by the bonnie clear Streams o' the West. JAMES ARMSTRONG. PlasJietts. (Being a Eeply to James Armstrong's " Streams o' the West.") ARMSTRONG, dear brother, why boast o' yer dreams About wild hills o' Wannup, an' clear western streams ? Ye boast o' yer hills an' yer green mossy fell, Think in' nae ane can boast o' the like but yersel ; Ye boast o' the plover, the moorcock, and hen, Where the wild thyme smells sweetly in yon bonnie glen ; Ye boast o' the lavrock as singin' sae fine, While we claim the syem on the banks o' the Tyne. 0, the banks o' the Tyne are weel knawn far and near For their beautiful landscapes and streams running clear ; Where the trout fills yer eyes with a gold-spangled gleam, And the salmon glides swift through the bonnie clear stream; 143 THE BANKS O* THE TTNE. "Where the hills are all clad with the furze bush and trees ; Where down the deep glen blows the sweet western breeze ; Where the May flower, the wild rose, and bonny woodbine, Send forth their sweet breath on the banks o' the Tyne. Where the fruit blossom's verdure there's nought can surpass, And the daisy would soften a heart made o' brass ; Where the cowslip and primrose peep out in the dell; Where Nature's own self seems delighted to dwell ; WTiere the winter-sick world seems delighted to gaze, And the critic's keen eye there will meet with amaze ; WTiere fortune and sunshine united do shine, On the green grassy hills on the banks o' the Tyne. But how does it happen, dear brother Armstrang, That the fair-sex is scarce ever nyem'd in yer sang? The real masterpiece o' Dame Nature's fine hand THE BANKS O* THE TYNE. I&9 How could ye miss out, man, an idea sae grand ? The fairest o' flowers that shoot frae the stems The greatest of blessings, the purest of gems ; With a fair virtuous woman sweet comforts will shine Alike in the west and the banks o' the Tyne. The roses may bloom, and the woodbine may climb, The lambkins may sport in the height of their prime, The daisy, the pink, and the primrose may spring, The lavrock may soar to the clouds on the wing, The Mayflower may bloom on the green crested thorn, And the western breeze sport with the green waving corn, But the country-bred lassie will all these out- shine, On the green mossy fells on the banks o' the Tyne. JAMES ANDERSON* Throckley, June 2, 1872. North of England Advertiser, June 8, 1872. Inscribed to the Author of " The Wild Hills o' Wannys." TUNE : " Humours o' Glen." Oh, Armstrong, how sweetly ye strike the wild lyre, Ye gild ilka stream wi' a halo sae grand ; Your sweet hamely sangs set my bosom on fire, Wi'langing to feel the warm grasp o' your hand. But tell me, dear Jamie, my muse-loving brither, Why leave oot the gem fraeyer poetic dreams ? Ye may search lang and sair, but ye'll ne'er find anither Mair pure than the Coquet, the queen o' a' streams. Auld Coquet can boast o' her wild rugged moun- tains, As grand as your "Wannie's" or Kielder's green knowes, An' a thousand clear rills oozing creep fra' their fountains 'Mang saft lintie blossoms that wave o'er the flowes. NORTHUMBRIA'S PRIDE. 151 Ilk bard o' auld Tyne may rejoice in its glory, An' brag o' its vales clad wi' posies sae fair, An' sing o' its heroes an' auld castles hoary, But nane o' them a' can wi' Coquet compare. They boast o' their "Staward" where nature rejoices, An' chant o' their glens an' ilk wee wimplin' burn; But our streams, rills, an' birdies wi' sweet joy- ful voices, Trill' d sweetly a welcome when Coughron was born. Yetlang, lovely Coquet, hast thou been neglected, I'm wae for to see thee left oot i' the cauld, To gaze on ilk scene on thy bosom reflected, Will aye warm my heart tho' I'm weary an* auld. How sweetly thou glides in thy sweet silvery beauty, Through groves where Pomona might sigh to repose ; Thou scoops out thy course where there's nought to pollute thee, As on to the ocean thou murmuring flows. 152 NORTHUMBRIANS PRIDE, Entranced wi' the prospect, mute, muse-struck, I've listened To melodies sweet by ilk breeze borne alang, While on ilka meadow pure crystal drops glis- tened, An' hung frae ilk flow' ret in clusters sae thrang. We've vales in the North, Jim, an' braes deck'd wi' flowers, Where dog-rose an' sweet fragrant woodbine entwine ; We breathe Heaven's pure air in our ain cozie bowers, Can ony say that on the banks o' the Tyne? We have hills tow'rin' lofty, an' streams clear as onie, Whilk ripple alang o'er ilk pebble-clad bed ; We have woods waving green, and we've Loughs' braid an' bonnie, An' spots where the faes o' Northumbria have bled. Then gie me your hand, Jim, there's joy yet before us, We've pleasures the dull, soulless worldlin' ne'er kens ; We taste bliss complete when the soft thrilling chorus 0' nature's wild sang-birds ring through the deep glens. NORTHUMBRIANS PRIDE. 153 Your sangs thrill my "bosom, tho' coofs may de- ride them, An' saut melting tears aften ooze frae my e'e. They creep down my cheek, tho' I'm fain for to hide them, As in ilk ither line mair hame beauties I see. Though critics may snarl, still their lash canna' harm ye, Just laugh while they choke wi' their spleen and abuse; In return, Jim, the sweet smiles o' Clio will warm ye> An' scatter the darts o' the faes o' the muse. May ye lang sing o' streams ye affirm are the clearest, An' soar o'er the crest o' adversity's tide, But spare me ae toast for the stream I love dearest, 'Tis Coquet, sweet Coquet, Northumbria's pride. LEWIS PROUDLOCK. Eidsdale. Hexham Herald, June 15, 1872. 0mm Ye hills where the clear winding streams o' the west Bin wimplin' awa' o'er the wild mountain's crest, An' birdies nit lightly the green leaves amang, Or warble wi' Armstrang a saul-thrilling sang ; Though far frae the scenes that enrapture me still, And while fancy neglects na, her night ever will. Oh ! the wild heaving Wannies, like robins lang syne, Are blent in my bosom wi' bonny North Tyne. Untutor'd by art imperfections to hide, There Nature exults in her grandeur and pride, And flings her broad mantle o'er moorland and lea ; Where lambkins are sporting sae blithesome and free, Oh ! there let me ponder, and pensively stray Through groves and green arbours the lang simmer day, And muse, while at eve on my couch I recline, O'er the wild heaving Wannies and bonny North Tyne. BONNIE NORTH TYNE. 155 Though fearfu' the frown o' the bleak northern sky, And cheerless thine aspect as winter wins nigh, How witching thy waters and woodlands appear When ilka breeze whispers the spring-tide is near ; Then dewy the daisy peeps out frae the dell, Where songsters a tale fu' o' tenderness tell. Oh ! Armstrang, dear brither, what then can outshine The wild heaving Wannies and bonny North Tyne. But time presses on, an' I canna weel spare A moment frae duty to rhyme onie mair; Syne theme of my heart for a season f areweel What aw canna express, like my betters, I feel; And though I may never set fit on thy shore, Nor wander thy wave-mirror'd banks as of yore, Deep, deep shall the course of affection enshrine The wild heaving Wannies and bonny North Tyne. JOHN TURNBULL. Shull Lodge. Hexham Herald, June 22nd> 1872. of t|xe (An answer to James Armstrong's "Clear Streams o' the West/' and James Anderson's " Banks o' the Tyne/') 0, ye crack o' yer liills and your streams o s the Wes'-, And ye brag o' the grandeur in which, they are drest, And ye boast o' your lasses, sae bonnie and fine, That grace the rich banks o' your famed coaly Tyne. But frae hame wad ye gan, it's then ye wad ken There are hills, dales, and streams that will match wi' your ain, Where our rosy-cheeked lassies like fair flowers shine ; They may challenge the West, and the world renowned Tyne, And then we have lavrocks that cheerily sing, We've blackbirds and thrushes that can gar the woods ring; THE CHAKMS OF THE COQUET. 157 Nay, our hills, dales, and streams, wi' Nature are drest : Can the Tyne boast o' mair, or the streams o' the West? By the streams o' the Coquet I love much to roam, For there lies my fancy, and there stands my home, To cheer me in need, when by sorrow oppressed, And we baith love the Tyne, and the streams o' the West. While the sun is up, and the morning is fine, And the dewdrops on flowers like diamonds shine, And each bird cheers his mate in the grove, While the breeze skips alang wi' the sighs o' their love, We'll away to yon hills where the curlews scream, And we'll peep at the trout as they sport in the stream, Where the shepherd tends flocks by the moun- tain's crest, And Nature smiles by the streams o' the West. We'll traverse the Kielder, and view grandeur fine, We'll keek into the linty's nest on the banks o' the Tyne, 158 THE QTJEEX OF THE FLOWERS. Yet we'll not rob her o' her young to grieve her breast, And turn her to sighs by the streams o' the West. But we'll soothe the heart, we'll smile with the Till the evening disrobes the bright orb of day. Then like the sun, we'll retire to rest, While Nature still blooms by the streams o 1 the West. Eothbiiry, June 12, 1872. North of England Advertiser, June 29, 1872. 0f tjxe On reading " The Streams of the West," and " The Banks of the Tyne." Let Armstrong, our brother, indulge in his dreams Of the wild hills of Wanny, and the clear west- ern streams ; Let him boast of the mountains and fells clad with bent ; Let him boast of the heath to his heart's full content. THE QUEEN OF THE FL nVEHS. 159 No wonder he boasts of the streams of the west, For each thinks his own country-side far the best. He can boast of his mossy and heather-clad moors, But no praise has he found for the Queen of the Flowers. He can boast of the plovers and sky-larks that sing Their sweet songs in the morn as they soar on the wing. If the landscape his bosom with happiness fills, And he pleasure can find in Northumbria's hills ; If he boast not the flower that adorns most our cot, The choicest of gems, then I envy him not : For this rich, lovely gem we can proudly call ours 'Tis the pride of the earth and the Queen of the Flowers. We will boast of the good and the virtuous fair, And assert there is nothing with them can com- pare The glittering diamond is compared of no worth With a pure-minded woman, the gem of the earth. 160 THE QUEEN OP THE FLOWERS. No wonder, friend Anderson, thou should de- mand How he'could miss out an idea so grand. She cheers with her presence life's gloomiest hours, And claims as her right to be Queen of the Mowers. He may boast, if he will, of his long range of sight, As he gazes afar from black Selling's proud height ; He r may boast of his wilds ; to the song birds may raise As high as the mountains his voice in their praise ; But a virtuous woman, my friend, is a prize That he well might extol to the blue vaulted skies. He might fancy his hills were the fairest of bowers If they were but adorn' d with the Queen of the Flowers. THOMAS WALL. Gosforth, June, 1872. Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, June 29, 1872. (In the Newcastle Dialect.) In answer te that Throckley chep. Syem teun i " TTaudaway Geordy." Whei hinny, Jamie, liawd thaw hand An' howay get thy bate, man, Thou' 11 spoil the score pryce varra seun If thou hews it sic a rate man ; Hoots man, hawd on, let s hev a low, Put on thaw sark an' coat, man, An' we'll hev a crajsk iboot thor sangs ; They tell me thou's a pote man. t Koris Then set thawsel away for fair, An' praise thaw weel-knawn river, Thou has ne call te hew ne mair, Ned Eenwick says thou's clivor. Thou says aw boast iboot ma hills, An* bonny western streams, man, Moorcocks an' hens an' bonny glens It aw saw in maw dreams, man. 162 ANITHER SANG. Eigh awVe fisht monie a sparklin' stream, An' clumb the Mils se hee, man, An' aw wul sing iboot them yit Until the day aw dee, man. , An' then thou tells ov thaw green hills Alang the banks iv Tyne, man, The Mayno'er an' the weyld rose, te, An' wudbine smellin' fine, man. Bit ov the smells iv Lemmintin Thou nivor yence did speak, man, An' thou hes mist a nidee grand Iboot the Wylam reek, man. Thou tells iboot that grand fur tree Besyde thaw nobil rivor ; When thou boasts ov thaw lassis, te, Thou caps me clean hoosivor. Noo thraw thaw picks and drills away, Shot-box, an 7 canny pit claes, man, An' smash thaw cracket a' te bits, An' myek sangs a' thaw days, man. Is seun is thou kan git away Cum te the West, maw laddy, An' we'll gan an' see that Coquet chep An 1 the shephord an' his pladdy. ANOTHER SONG. 163 Man if thou saw the heathor bells An' hard the whusslin plivor, Thou wad think 't fair hivin on the fells, An' leave Sooth Tyne for ivor. JAMES ARMSTRONG. Plashetts. North of England Advertiser, June 29, 1872. IN ANSWER TO JAMES ARMSTRONG. AIR: " There's nae luck aboot the hoose." Noo,' Armstrong, aw hev seen yor sang, An' prood aw was te read it ; An' may yor life continue lang Te write the sangs that's needed. About hewin thoo hes shaved me clean, Ne doot thou think s't a mazer ; But before thoo tries to shave agyen, Aw hope thou'll whet thy razor. Chorus. So try an' blaw anuther breeze, An' divvent miss the mark, man; But write of lasses, flowers, an' trees, An' miss oot dirty wark, man. 164 ANOTHER KOWO. Aw ni vor 'interfere wi' wark, At least when aw is writin; For aw nivor think it's worth the time, Nor trouble ov inditin. Gud subjects we can find bi scores, Throughout the whole creashun ; So try agyen and choose a yen That better suits thy stashun. Thoo says, aw nivor nyem the smoke Ov Lemminton an 7 Wylam; Wey! thou surely th;nks aw'vejustcumoot A lunatic asylum. Wh/3ii aw write sangs aw try to praise Things worthy oV attenshun, But te write ov smoke an* boast ov wark Such things aw 11 nivor menshun. Thoo sa} r s thoo's fish'd i ? mony a stream, Wey ! we differ there agyen man, Te kill a fish, or owt else, thoo Must hev a heart o' styen man ; Aw cuddent treed a daisy doon, Nor anything alarm, man ; Aw cuddent treed upon a worm, A moose aw cuddent harm, man. ANITHEll SANG. 165 Noo aw'll conclude an' thenk ye For yor kindly invitashun, Te see the west i' nature drest ' Is indeed ma\v inelinashun. So adieu ! till aw can see a chance, For us twe lads te meet, man, An' ower a glass, wor sangs discuss, An' spend a jolly neet, man. JAMES ANDERSON. Throckley. Eexham Herald, Qtlt July, 1872. IN REPLY TO ANDERSON'S " CANNY TYNESIDE." Anderson, my mannie, I've seen a graun sang, That ye threep is your ain, be it richt or wrang, Whilk ye've made a' yersel' when ye coull hae been seen A-wanderin' the road aboot Wa'bittle Dene. Chorus. It 'ill kythe on ye, Jimmie, an' that 'ill be seen, Gin ye tak thae wanderin's by Wa'bittle Dene. Jimsie, Jimsie, say hoo 'did ye foel, Was ye lauchin', or greetin ', or was ye no weel ? 166 AXITHFJl SAXG. "Was ye hive-sick, or menn-struck? tell me skraliean ; Or what gars ye wander by Wa'bittle Dene ? Then tell me, my laddie, when ye tuk the fit Was ye on the fuddle or down in the pit ? Or courtin' the lasses, o' whilk yer sae keen, Or wanderin' the road aboot Wa'bittle Dene. If hive ails ye, Jimmie, then tak' Lang Will's plan, An' work'd aif wi' physic as seun as ye can ; Yer a queer ane, deed are ye, to be sae aft seen A-wanderin the road aboot Wa'bittle Dene. Or gin ye be me un- struck, then hasten wi' speed, An' get a cauld kail-blade, an' lay on yer head, A neep-shaw, or dock en, or aucht that is green, When ye tak thae wanderin's by Wa'bittle Dene. Tak' my advice, noo, an' mind what I say, Get boor'd for the sturdy, and do not delay ; Or else some cauld mornin' they'll fin' ye, I ween, Lyin' awelt and frozen by Wa'bittle Dene. JAMES ARMSTRONG. Plashetts. "Hexham Herald," November 23rd, 1872 " Juntlm- Sang." In reply to Jimmie Armstrang's sturdy sang. Oh, Armstrang, dear brother ! whatever can ye mean By askin' such questions aboot Walbottle Dene ? For aw wander these roads when the Muses do move, Without e'erbein' sea-sick wi' meunshine or love; And while aw love lasses, and lasses love me, Aw'll sing of their praises in each bank and brae ; And aw think it an honour to be often seen In that famous old love depot, Walbottle Dene. And as for the f uddlin' that's nyem'din yer sang, If that's yer idea yer a thousand miles wrang ; For though aw 11 admit that aw like a quiet gill, Aw ne'er liked yer f uddlin', and hope aw never win. Ony good social company aw'll j oin in their thrang , And de me best to assist wiv a toast or a sang, But for lyin* oot at neets, man, awVe ne'er yet been seen, Not e'en in my favourite spot, Walbottle Dene. 168 ANlTHEli SANG. Or do ye think aw gan oot wi' the gun for me plan, To slaughter dumb animals, or frighten frail man, As Jim. Wesfcgarth tells me, when ye were wi' him, The Pont keepers cam and compelled ye to swim. no, maw dear man, when aw wander the lane, It's not; fo cause any dumb animal pain, But a-courtin' the Muse and admiring the scene Of that dear auld romantic spot, Walbottle Dene. So now, my brave fellow, aw'll finish rne rhyme, . And aw hope that ye'll myek better use o' yer time : And sing aboot lasses, and hills, woods, and dells, Fine rivers and streamlets, and sweet heather bells. And when ye gan forward Dame Nature to scan, Just think o' the blessin' that woman's to man; And then at a glance it is plain to be seen The reason aw wander by Walbottle Dene. JAMES ANDERSON. Throekley, December 2, 1872. " Hexham Herald/' December 7, 1872. BHAVE Anderson went to the toon, Wi' his .cronies a' in clusters ; Bont pistils, gnns, and twa lang swords, Baith double cut and thrusters, What ails ye noo, Frank Maffen said, Are ye gaun ta shoot some f ewil, ! no lad, no, I'm a hero, I'm gann ta f eycht a Duel. Chorus. It's riae use tryin' to hand me noo, 111 kill that ootbye huel ; Just beyde off me, I'll let ye see, I'm gaun to'feycht a Duel. I'm gannin West to North Teyne heed, Wul ye gan wi'' me my mannie ; I'll shoot that chiel o' Plashetts deed, Him the weyld herds ca' Wanny. ! hand yer han', then Westgarth cried, An' dinna be sae cruel ; Ye 11 dae nae guid to spill his bind, ! dinna f eycht a Duel. 170 THE DUEL. It's uae use taukin noo, its no, He sal ken wi r wha he's dealin ; Bring me some poother an' some shot, An' yon lang gun frae Ponteelin. Brave Telford, he'll stand at my back, Till I slew the heelin huel ; An' I'll never flinch a half an inch When I gan to f eycht the Duel. He put on that coat o' Henderson's, Fill'd a pocket fu' o' poother ; Put bullits, guns, caps, swords an' a', An' pistils in the t'other. Then he went on to Throckley Fell, Wi' baggy Frank and Eowell, And they put him thro' his exercise, To gan and f eycht theDuel. They put a yetlin on his heed, A horse tail on the middle ; At break o ? day he maircht away, To the soond o' f eyf e and fiddle. Come back, come back, theauldweyves cried, ! come back, Jim, my jewel; My lad, it'll wer doughters kill, If ye fa' in, the Duel. THE DUEL. 171 He mairclit on still through Harlowhill, The colours ower him flyin ; The gewgaws an' tin-whussils played, There he left the lassies cryin. The last teyme ever he was seen Was on the banks o' Ruel, Shootin hip hurray, noo clear 'the way, I'm gaun to feycht a Duel. EKD OF THE CONTROVERSY. CROSSING THE CHEVIOTS. On the 8th of August, 1879, I went off to see my brother at Ford. Away up the Reed, by Otterburn, Bennett's Field, Steward Shields, Coquetside, up by Shillmoor, and from thence up the glen of the Usway to Usway Ford, where I stayed all night. In the morning it was a dark mist, and the herd got the horse and set me to Cocklaw Foot. My line was across the Cheviot, but as Henshole was enveloped in a misty cloud, my pilot strongly advised me not to venture over the heights, and as he had it, " It's a ruggit track ony way, and in the mist it's a thousand chances to ane again ye, as yer maist seer to get lost ; but I can set ye on a safe track doon the Bowmont and roon by Yetholm." And as I was in a " swither " I took his advice. On arriving at Yetholm I inquired of a fair-haired lassie if 172 CROSSING THE CHEVIOTS. ever she had. seen the Gipsy Queen, and if she was a good crack. " Ow aye, nionie a time. She's nae greet seycht ta see, but she'll tell ye a lot o' nonsense 'ta begin wi\ an spae yer fortune by yer hanV Just -then a butcher came up with his cart and gave me the chance of a ride (13 miles) canny man, so off we went, and on the ' way passed the Yeavering Bell, and the Field of Floddeii, fatal Modden. At last I arrived at Ford and had a few days', fishing, but nothing to crack on. Left my kind friends arid Ford in- tending to come by R-othbury, but on coming to Millfield the fit came on me to cross the Cheviots, so oif I started ; crossed the Glen Water, up the College Burn, and over the " ruggit " track by Henshole, and tis it was fine and clear I enjoyed, a scene of wild and sublime grandeur that neither .] o^t s pen nor painter's pencil can describe. >- ur^ly if there is a foretaste of Heaven it is on Cheviot oil a clear summer's day.. After, gazing my fill on this mountain paradise I struck over to Usway Ford. AYelconie, a hearty welcome, from uvery - oiu kind souls the Andersons, both old ami young. On Saturday, I was up in good time i nd pullud a fine lot of noops or cloud berries, then down to the house, and after many kindly invitation* to come back, and have a few days hunting, I took the road, and over by B ami Burn; stripped, and had a good labber in the Coquet, when I was as fresh as a lavrock, and footed it ovur tho fells to bonnie Heedwater again. U. C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES