ULLSWATER FOXHOUNDS: OPENING MEET, OCT. 11TH, 1919.
On one occasion the Windermere Harriers brought a fox to hand at Blakerigg at the head of the Easedale valley. Anthony Chapman, now landlord of the famous “Mortal Man” hotel in Troutbeck, was huntsman at the time, and that day the only follower was one Isaac Thompson. The carcass of the fox was laid upon a flat rock when Anthony turned to his friend and exclaimed, “Why, Isaac, we’ve never halloed!”
To kill a fox without a death halloa was a sad omission, so a combined who-whoop rent the air, and awoke the echoes amongst the crags. In fact, it did more than that, it brought the supposedly dead fox to life, and sent him helter-skelter down the rough fell breast in a final dash for liberty. Hounds viewed him and flew in hot pursuit, and after a smart burst, rolled him over in the bottom near the tarn. To this day Anthony delights to tell the tale of the fox which was “killed twice over.”
On another occasion the same pack had a good run, which ended with a check near a gateway in a lane. After casting round with no result, a boy suddenly appeared on the scene, and exclaimed:
“What are you laiting?” (looking for).
“I’se laiting a fox!” replied Anthony.
“What, So-and-so (giving the name) has it tied up i’ t’ barn,” said the youth.
On making investigation, sure enough there was the fox tied up with a collar and chain in one of the farm buildings.
The party responsible for the deed was a local of the “not quite sharp” persuasion, who had arrived at the gateway just as hounds ran into their fox; and had rescued the latter little or nothing the worse.