Before the Frost, 125 



shade in quick succession. Then the welcome cry 

 of " Tallyho, tallyho ! " is heard. '' Have at him 

 there ! " cries Arthur ; " yoi, have at him there, lads ! " 

 and we know that a deer has been roused, and we 

 hear the deep-mouthed baying of the hounds and 

 the horn of the huntsman, who is hard pressing the 

 hind in order to make her break cover and take to 

 the open. Then hark, a view-halloo, "Gone away, 

 gone away!" and the deer went away, rising the 

 steep hill, entering a small cover; but the hounds 

 are close upon her quarters, and I conclude that we 

 are going to have a burster, and fully determine to 

 harden my heart, hustle my horse, and go away at 

 full tilt. Suddenly the cracking of whips and rating 

 of hounds are heard, and they are stopped, as it is a 

 hornless stag we are running, instead of a hind as 

 we thought. 



After this we draw the cover again, but with little 

 success, as we are unable to drive another hind away ; 

 and the afternoon having become wet and gusty, the 

 hounds were taken home. Arriving at the Lion, I 

 find a gallant son of Mars, and a thorough good 

 fellow to boot, whose acquaintance I made on a 

 former occasion when visiting Dulverton, and we 

 "judicious drink, and greatly daring, dine," to use 

 the words of Pope. The leg of Exmoor mutton was 

 superb ; the stewed steak, which could not be sur- 

 passed by the c/z^/ either at White's or Boodle's ; the 

 apple pie and Devonshire cream left nothing to be 

 desired, save a bottle or three of 1847 port, over 

 which we discussed many matters connected with 

 the art of venery, and hunting the hind in par- 

 ticular. 



