GAME NOTES AND FOLK-LORE. 201 



observed ; some illness or accident did occur 

 once or twice, and the belief became firmly 

 fixed. By-and-by the clergyman heard of 

 this, and afterwards took care that the ser- 

 mon should finish either some few minutes 

 before or after four. As he preached he 

 listened for the warning note of the church 

 clock just before four and timed himself 

 accordingly. 



Belief in the wise woman, in omens, 

 and ancient traditionary superstitions, like 

 that about tumuli, is by no means con- 

 fined to the labouring classes, but shared in 

 by many who are well-to-do and, from their 

 position, would be imagined superior to such 

 influences. Over Eed Deer Land modern 

 civilisation has passed like a breath of wind, 

 stirring the leaves of the trees but leaving 

 them as they were. Just as material forces 

 have been baffled in the attempt to cultivate 

 the wilderness of Exmoor, so the mental 

 forces of the present era have only super- 

 ficially touched the people. They read the 



