82 Hark Away. 



is hunted during the remainder of the year, ter- 

 minating at Christmas. Greater sport is, as a rule, 

 shown when the hind is hunted, and runs of five and 

 six hours' duration are not unfrequent. 



Taken on the whole, I consider hunting the wild 

 red deer the most magnificent sport that Great 

 Britain produces. To ride over this country requires 

 both nerve and judgment, and it is one of the privi- 

 leges that the dwellers in Devon and Somerset enjoy, 

 of being able to indulge in this enjoyable pastime 

 during the months of August and September, a 

 period during which it would be impossible to hunt 

 in any other county in England. 



The season is now at its height ; the best sport is 

 all to come. Hitherto the young hounds have only 

 been trying their 'prentice hands ; now, under the 

 able tuition of their clever and hard-riding hunts- 

 man, and his excellent and persevering whip, George 

 Southwell, they are becoming proficient in the art of 

 chasing the wild deer and following the hind across 

 the wide tracts of moorland, over the heather- 

 clad hills, along the emerald glades, amidst the 

 densely - wooded combes, through the babbling 

 brooks and rippling rivers, and not unfrequently 

 along the sea-shore. Twice during the early part 

 of the season the hunted hart, having vainly striven 

 to outstrip his pursuers, has taken a wild headlong 

 leap from the tall clifi" in order to escape, and " re- 

 signed to his fate o'er the waters he's borne, and 

 dies on the wild wave that breaks on Glenthorne." 



Any person desiring to try his skill in riding with 

 the Devon and Somerset will find excellent accom- 

 modation at the Lion at Dulverton, or if he prefers 



