did so with
scoffs and ... gibes in some cases, yet I could not help but in my heart
consider that they were fully in the right on't."

There is a remarkable story recorded of the fatal result of hunting a
black-brushed fox found at Sinnington. It was on Thursday, January 13th,
1803, that "a black-brush'd fox was setten up at the high side of
Sinnington. Some there were who left the hounds the instant they seed the
colour of its brush for they minded that one who lived in those parts over
a hundred years agone and who was held to be wise in dark things had owned
a black-brushed reynard as a companion and which being on the moor on a
time when hounds came that way they gave chace and presently killed, w^ch
did so vex the wise dame that she was heard to cast a curse upon all those
who should ever after give chace to one of its offspring and it hath being
noted that by times when there be a black brush and it do be hunted that
it is never catched and there be always some ill fall upon him who does
first clap eyes on't and set the hounds on its scent. On this very day did
some then present give chace and followed for ower three good hours while
baith men, horses and hounds were all dead beat and just when they did aim
for to claim its brush one Holliday fell from his horse and brake his
neck, and he it was who had first set een on't. They were then close upon
Chop Yatt ower forty mile by the course they had run. It was then brought
to mind that one Blades a score years afore had been suddenly called to
account on the same venture.

"One verse of an old hunting ditty which tells a tale of four bold riders
who came by their death ower a cragg afollowing one of this same breed
many years agone now, it tells in this wise:--

"Draw rein and think, bold hunter halt,
Sly Reynard let go free,
To ride ahint yon full black brush
Means death to you or me.
No luck can come so get you home
And there tie up your steed,
Yon black brush is ye devil wand
It scents ye grave to feed."

The Sinnington hounds have long been famous in the North Riding, and their
history goes back to the earliest days of fox-hunting in these parts. The
Bilsdale being the only pack that claims an earlier origin. William
Marshall, the agricultural writer (mentioned a few pages further on),
hunted with the Sinnington pack for many years, and Jack Parker, huntsman
of last century, was a very notable character whose witty anecdotes are
still remembered. The sil