THE HUNTED STAG. 151 



On surmounting the coombe-side there are 

 miles of heather, and often fair, level going ; 

 the walls occasionally are difficult, but the 

 risk is from the peaty places. Even in 

 summer these cause frequent falls, the 

 horse's fore-feet sink, and the jerk of the 

 sudden stoppage throws the rider, on soft 

 peat, however, so that it is rare for him to 

 be hurt. These places are avoided by those 

 who know the country the rough grasses, 

 sedges, and white cotton-grass giving them 

 warning. After a stretch of such moorland 

 may come a ridge of hills, often rough. 

 Dunkery, for instance, which is the highest, 

 is covered with large stones. The larger 

 valleys have rivers at the bottom, which are 

 often difficult to cross. The contour of the 

 country is such that by judiciously moving 

 from point to point, instead of following the 

 trail, it is possible to watch the hunt for 

 miles without any trouble ; and, on the 



