132 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



Looking up to the height known as Whitefield Down, 

 whose steep slopes towered some hundreds of feet 

 above us, my plans were at once made. I ordered my 

 groom to walk my horse quietly to the top at once, 

 and if the hounds ran that way to look out for me. 

 If, on the other hand, the deer took a line back into 

 the big woodlands, he was to follow and join me as 

 soon as he could. 



Soon after eleven the Master gave the signal to 

 draw with the pack, there being only one deer in the 

 covert, and tufters being consequently unnecessary. 

 All went as had been hoped ; the stag, w^ho was, how- 

 ever, very nearly "blanched"^ by some of the field, 

 succeeded in making Whitefield Down. Up this 

 precipitous steep the field had to follow, and it was 

 soon "bellows to mend" with some of the horses. 

 Confident in finding a fresh horse at the top, I 

 bucketed my unfortunate hack somewhat unmercifully 

 up the steep. My confidence was not ill bestowed, for 

 there was George with the mare. 



Here, I think, I should mention the mount who 

 carried me so well that day. " Contraband," by 

 "Free Trade," her dam by "The Brigand," was a 

 blood bay, standing sixteen hands two and a half. 

 She was at the time only four years off, but had a 

 much lighter weight to carry than her frame would 

 warrant in future years. This, then, was the mare 

 who was waiting for me at the top of the hill. I lost 

 no time in changing horses, for hounds were running 

 hard. For the next mile or so the moor was very bad 

 .going, being both boggy and trappy. Soon we cross 

 the Barle, and come out on the high land known as 



1 " Blanched " in stag-hunting corresponds to " headed " in fox-hunting, 

 and means that the stag is turned from his point by man. 



