THE HUNTED STAG. 149 



chink under a horse's hoofs, and slip and 

 slide downwards. Paths are narrow, and 

 nothing but furrows in the stones and rocky 

 fragments. Very good sportsmen fresh to 

 the country frequently hesitate to ride down, 

 not so much on their own account, as that 

 of their horses, unused to such footing. It 

 is observed, indeed, that the fast hunters of 

 other countries are not so good for riding in 

 Red Deer Land as a stouter, more cob-like, 

 and less valuable horse. At the bottom of 

 the coombe a stream of water always flows, 

 sometimes only a rivulet, sometimes a wide 

 brook, but usually rocky, and awkward to 

 cross. The climb on the opposite side is 

 equally steep, so that a light-built fast 

 horse is soon beaten. Through many of 

 these coombes, which are in effect narrow 

 valleys, there is no riding at all except 

 by certain paths, so that it is necessary 

 either to have a full knowledge of the 



