[Dailydrool] Fwd: London Adventure: Tuesday pm, Hounds to the rescue

Fri May 12 02:10:29 PDT 2017

From: Sally King <sallyemking at yahoo.co.uk<mailto:sallyemking at yahoo.co.uk>>
Date: May 12, 2017 at 5:09:36 AM EDT
To: Angelika Hastings <angelikabrn at hotmail.com<mailto:angelikabrn at hotmail.com>>
Subject: Fw: London Adventure: Tuesday pm,  Hounds to the rescue
Reply-To: Sally King <sallyemking at yahoo.co.uk<mailto:sallyemking at yahoo.co.uk>>

Many thanks for doing this
Sally

Younger Clara here

"Introducing SIr Rolphimis Fitzspaniel of Avondale," the official at Balmoral castle said to the footman. Rolph walked forward out of sight an we heard him being introduced elsewhere.

Each hound was called forward and introduced. Most of them were greeted with a formal "How do you do?", occasionally there was "and where do you live?", or "and what do you do?", just to break the monotony.

Cleo came into the room almost squirming on her tummy and trying to curtsy at the same time. The Queen was good enough not to smile.

Once they were all in the receiving room the flunkies opened the next door to a dining room. "You must be hungry after your trip," said the official. Come to eat - but more protocol.

"You do not sit down before the queen. You do not touch your cutlery until the queen starts to eat. If the queen finishes a course, you have to as well - even if it's just been served. You do not speak to her unless addressed and you do not get up on the table or eat off anyhound else's plate."

The hounds all nodded. It is strange how when you are near royalty everything seems a bit overwhelming. The meal went without mishap, although there was no chance of the queen finishing a course ahead of the guests on this occasion.

Afterwards, we were shown to our quarters and told to be available for cocktails at 5.30pm. "In the meantime," said the official, looking at a couple of the younger hounds with concern  "There is a drag hunt taking place in the grounds. Anyone wanting to work off their meal might like to join in."

"Does that mean we get to catch a fox?" asked Hooter eagerly.

"No sir, fox hunting was outlawed nearly 20 years ago. You chase a scent which has been laid earlier in the day by a man dragging a sack."

"well, I certainly fancy a bit of fresh air," woofed Sasha, with her eyes shining brightly. Will we be joining a pack?"

"Yes madam. The queen's pack is being taken out in half an hour. Feel free to go to the stable yard to report in."

Sasha was quickly joined by Chunky, Christmas, Jed, Mac, Tedward, Stonewall, Samantha, Mozart, Paulie, Tabby, Kylee Dawn and Kaitlynn Skye.

The rest of us withdrew to the library for a post dinner snooze among the antiques and Persian rugs.
After about an hour. Duchess flew in, very flustered.

"Clara, you'd better come quickly, she said. The Master of the Hounds has fallen off his horse into a ditch and we can't get him out.

I took Rusty, Hooter, Horton, Olivia and Cleo to see what we could do. Rolph, Dexter and Millie went off to the staff quarters to raise the alarm.

Twinkletoes joined us outside. "Follow me," she called, flying forwards and backwards as we tried to keep up.

We galloped across the land, up the side of mountains and down rugged creeks, until we came to the pack, who were all milling around a small ravine. A horse was standing there as well, looking very fed up.

It was only when we stopped running that I realised how cold it was. The frost, which is always harder in Scotland, hadn't melted at all. And although it was afternoon, the sun was heading behind heavy clouds making it quite dark.

I peered down and saw the Master sitting at the bottom. "I can't move my legs" he explained. I looked around.The only thing like a rope I could see were his horse's reins and I wasn't sure they'd be strong enough.

I have an idea, said Olivia. Look over there, the walls of the ravine are less steep.If we bassets go down the ravine, we could get underneath him and carry him up to the top, where the angels should be able to pull him up onto the bank. In the meantime, the long-legged hunting hounds can gallop back to the castle and get them to send an air ambulance.

"Brilliant plan," said Bobo. "Come on you lot, let's go.

I put the smallest bassets at the front of the rescue pawty, which includes me, and staggered the sizes behind, leading to the biggest dogs.

Once we got down into the narrow ravine, it was out of the biting wind, but it was still cold and even darker. We made our way down the ravine until we found the Master. He was shaking and in a lot of pain. Naturally we gave him lots of kisses to cheer him up, before we started wriggle underneath him.

As gently as we could, we started to work him up the ravine. It was really hard, but we gradually inched our way out of the top end and them we piled all around him and on top of him to keep him warm.

The helicopter appeared overhead and was guided down by Duchess and Twinkletoes, while Stuart flew down to reassure the patient help was at hand. When the paramedics jumped out, Bobo and Rudy guided them over the rough terrain, while Poppy and Olive headed back to the castle to let the others know help had arrived.

The paramedic couldn't believe what he saw. "I was worried you'd have died a death of cold out here before we found you," he said, but these dogs have kept you warm. What clever creatures they are."

"They got my out of that ravine too" said the huntsman. The paramedic quickly checked him for fever.

The helicopter took him off to the hospital and we all ran back to the castle, arriving just in time for cocktails and more impawtantly, dinner.

Clara, who could eat that horse the man fell off right now.

Where we went  http://www.balmoralcas<http://www.balmoralcas/>tle.com/<http://tle.com/>

Thank you to all those who have sent money to Basset Rescue Network Great Britain. If anyone still wishes to give a little cookie cash, you can Paypal payments at brngb.org.uk<mailto:payments at brngb.org.uk>  or visit their Just Giving page to pay by card. Those who want to send a check can email me at bassetydogshomr at gmail.com<mailto:bassetydogshomr at gmail.com> for an address.

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