Before the Fi'ost. 123 



that the Quarm Harriers — said to be one of the most 

 perfect packs in the country, showing marvellous 

 sport — will hunt in the neighbourhood. The fixture 

 on the following morning was Haddon Hill, a lovely 

 spot adjacent to Pixton Park, the seat of the Earl of 

 Carnarvon ; and it was at this favourite meet that 

 I was to see once more the Devon and Somerset 

 hounds pursuing the hind over hill and dale, amidst 

 the glorious scenery of this grand country, which 

 has always a fresh charm, whether seen when the 

 wild and extensive ranges of hills are clad in purple 

 heather, or at the present sad and sombre season. 

 At all times beautiful is this lovely part of England ; 

 and the landscape, seen as I viewed it, at the close 

 of autumn, was, if possible, grander at this period of 

 the year than it was when I rode up the hill of 

 Dunkerry and over the trackless waste of Exmoor in 

 pursuit of the stag in the middle of August. 



A very short acquaintance with the little horse 

 which Mr. King had selected for me, sufficed to 

 prove that he knew his way about, and satisfied 

 me that the best thing I could do would be to let 

 him follow his own devices; and it was not long 

 before I found that my confidence had not been 

 misplaced. Marvellous was the style in which he 

 descended the hills, picking his way between rolling 

 stones and lifting his legs over fallen trees that lay 

 across our path — for the wind had recently shown 

 its power, and the riven oaks proved that it is not 

 always sunshine and fair weather in these parts. 



By this time the place of meeting was reached, 

 and I found Arthur Heal and the pack in the yard 

 beyond the harbourer's house. The order to move 



