CHASE OF WILD DEEE IN ENGLAND 141 



of a movement towards the meeting-place, First it is 

 a string of bicyclists of both sexes, almost all equipped 

 with cameras ; then one or two grooms going quietly 

 on with their masters' steeds ; and then dozens of 

 vehicles, from the humble fly to the lordly landau. 

 As we get nearer the scene of action a couple of 

 green- coated hunt-servants with second horses trot 

 past ; and lastly comes the pack, clustering round the 

 huntsman — a sight which compels us, too, to hasten 

 our pace. 



The rendezvous is at a little bridge, or rather culvert, 

 under which a forest streamlet known as the Obere 

 Water hurries to join the Lymington river. When 

 we reach it we find the hounds in an open glade on 

 the roadside, whilst master and huntsman are in 

 earnest consultation with the forest keepers of the 

 " Walk," who are here to report as to the deer in the 

 immediate vicinity. Their information is to the effect 

 that two " warrantable " bucks are using the enclosure 

 immediately to the eastward. With the exception of 

 three couples, hounds are now chained by them in 

 bunches, each taken charge of by a pedestrian. The 

 others, technically known, as I have before said, as 

 " tufters," are then called away by the huntsman, who, 

 with the Master, trots away to draw for the deer. 



Some of the field elect to follow these preliminary 

 proceedings, whilst others, of whom we form a part, 

 follow the pack up the road half a mile or so to the 

 place at which they have been ordered to wait. 

 Here we dismount, and kill the time with conver- 

 sation or tobacco. With us are, perforce, all the 

 carriages and bicycles, who can hardly expect to see 

 much of the fun in such a close country. At intervals 

 we hear something of the proceedings. It may be 



