RED DEER LAND. 13 



their path by night, but the thick mist 

 sometimes defies even the shepherds. It 

 hangs for days ; Dunkery Beacon is hidden 

 in it when, at the same time, the vale be- 

 neath is clear and lit by the sun. It is 

 observed that when Dunkery Beacon is thus 

 completely covered the Selworthy range of 

 hills just opposite are frequently free of 

 fog. The staghounds are accordingly taken 

 across to Selworthy at such times. To 

 hunt on the moors about Dunkery is im- 

 possible the hounds would be lost to view 

 in a moment in the vapour. Winds sweep 

 over the exposed heights sometimes with 

 such violence that a man can hardly retain 

 his seat in the saddle. Such inclemency 

 seems due to the elevation of the land, the 

 nearness of the Western sea, and the nature 

 of the soil, which retains water. 



Good crops are obtained in the vales, 

 though everything is late in spring, so that 



