THE WILD PONIES OF EXMOOB. 223 



hand, whispering, " Ride on without seeming to take 

 notice ; there are the deer." A great red stag, lying on 

 the brown grass, had sprung up, and was gazing on our 

 party too numerous and too brightly attired to be 

 herdsmen, whom he would have allowed to pass without 

 notice. Behind him were clustered four hinds and a 

 calf. They stood still for some minutes watching our 

 every movement, as we tried to approach them in a 

 narrowing circle. Then the stag moved off slowly, with 

 stately, easy, gliding steps, constantly looking back. 

 The hinds preceded him : they reached the edge of the 

 valley, and disappeared. We galloped up, and found 

 that they had exchanged the slow retreat for a rapid 

 flight, clearing every slight or suspicious obstacle with a 

 grace, ease, and swiftness it was delightful to witness. 

 In an incredibly short time they had disappeared, hidden 

 by undulations in the apparently flat moor. 



These were one of the few herds still remaining on 

 the foiest. In a short time the wild deer of Exmoor 

 will be a matter of tradition ; and the hunt, which may 

 be traced back to the time of Queen Elizabeth, will, if 

 continued, descend to the " cart and calf" business. 



A sight scarcely less interesting than the deer was 

 afforded by a white pony mare, with her young stock 

 consisting of a foal still sucking, a yearling, and a two- 

 year-old which we met in a valley of the Earle. The 

 two-year-old had strayed away feeding, until alarmed by 

 the cracking of our whips and the neighing of its dam, 

 when it came galloping down a steep combe, neighing 

 loudly, at headlong speed. It is thus these ponies learn 

 their action and sure-footedness. 



It was a district such as we had traversed entirely 

 wild, wit aout inclosures, or roads, or fences that came 

 into the hands of the father of the present proprietor. 



