126 Hark A way. 



The day but one following, the Devon and Somer- 

 set met at Hele Bridge, abont two miles from Dul- 

 verton, a lovely spot, through which the Exe flows 

 swiftly on its course, and on arriving at the appointed 

 place, I found many sportsmen assembled, as well as 

 several ladies, who usually are to be seen at the best 

 " fixtures " — amongst them Mrs. Froude Bellew, Miss 

 Jekyll, and Mrs. Barnard ; also Mr. S. H. Warren, 

 Captain Barnard, the Hon. Robert Trollope, Mr. Gore 

 Langton, Mr. Connack Marshall, Mr. Lovelace from 

 Winsford, and Mr. Westcote from Hawkridge. Punc- 

 tual to the minute, Arthur receives the order to move 

 on from Mr. Warren, who acts in the absence of 

 Squire Bissett, and the huntsman is not in the adja- 

 cent cover many minutes ere a view-halloo is heard. 

 After rattling the covers for a while, a hind breaks 

 away — unfortunately accompanied by her calf, a 

 yearling, which is pulled down in a turnip field ad- 

 joining the Dulverton road. Then she retreats into 

 cover, from which she shortly goes aw^ay, across the 

 Dulverton road, in the direction of Haddon Wood. 

 Promptly the pack are brought out and laid on her 

 track ; but the scent is cold, and the young hounds 

 do not readily pick it up. But at length they get 

 on the line and drive her through the wood, which 

 rings with the music of the hounds. It soon appears 

 as if we should get a gallop across a beautiful line of 

 country, lying in the direction of King's Brompton ; 

 but she changes her mind, doubles back, and makes 

 for the valley, going down stream in the direction of 

 Hele Bridge. But the hounds are close upon her 

 track and in order to baffle them she takes to the 

 water, and ensconces herself in a deep pool, from 



