CHASE OF WILD DEEE IN ENGLAND 131 



haps to explain that the term "tufters" is applied 

 to the three or four hounds with which the coverts 

 are generally drawn, the remainder of the pack being- 

 shut up in some convenient barn. The reason of this 

 is that the covert probably contains all sorts of deer, 

 stags, hinds, and calves. The tufters are stopped 

 again and again, till the required animal is seen to 

 go away, when they are stopped for the last time, and 

 the whole pack is fetched and laid upon the line. Of 

 course, when there is known to be only one deer in a 

 covert this precaution is unnecessary, and the covert 

 is drawn with the pack as in fox-hunting. 



The Hunt uniform is scarlet, with a silver button 

 bearing a stag's head and the motto, "Prosperity to 

 Stag-hunting." It is the only Hunt which has a crest 

 and motto of its own. 



Having now described the Hunt at some length, let 

 me dip into my old diaries for a couple of representa- 

 tive runs. 



A MOORLAND RUN. 



The meet for Wednesday, the 3rd of October 18 — , 

 was fixed for Bray Ford, a point almost equidistant 

 from London and Dulverton, and from Barnstaple and 

 Porlock. The legitimate stag - hunting season had 

 nearly reached its close, and the vast fields (some- 

 times five hundred horsemen) w^e had seen in August 

 and September had dwindled considerably, though 

 probably over a hundred were present at the meet. 



Before I had changed my hack for my hunter, the 

 harbourer approached me and informed me he had 

 harboured a single stag in Cold Hill Wood, and that 

 the Master intended to try and force him to the Moor. 



