THE CHASE OF THE WILD DEER, 143 



had harboured a single stag in Cold Hill Wood, and 

 that the Master intended to try and force him to 

 the moor. Looking up to the height known as 

 Whitefield Down, whose steep slopes towered some 

 hundreds of feet above us, my plans were at once 

 made. I ordered my groom to walk my horse quietly 

 to the top at once, and if the hounds ran that way 

 to look out for me. If, on the other hand, the deer 

 took a line back into the big woodlands, he was to 

 follow and join me as soon as he could. 



Soon after eleven the Master gave the signal to 

 draw with the pack, there being only one deer in 

 the covert, and tufters being consequently unnecessary. 

 All went as had been hoped ; the stag, who was, how- 

 ever, very nearly "blanched"^ by some of the field, 

 succeeded in making Whitefield Down. Up this 

 precipitous steep the field had to follow, and it was 

 soon "bellows to mend" with some of the horses. 

 Confiding in finding a fresh horse at the top, I 

 bucketted my unfortunate hack somewhat unmerci- 

 fully up the steep. My confidence was not ill- 

 bestowed, for there was George with the mare. 



Here, I think, I should mention the mount who 

 carried me so well that day. " Contraband," by 

 "Free Trade," her dam by "The Brigand," was a 

 blood bay, standing sixteen hands two and a half. 

 She was at the time only four years off, but had a 

 much lighter weight to carry than her frame would 

 warrant in future years. This, then, was the mare 



* * ; Blanched " in stag-hunting corresponds to " headed " in fox- 

 hunting, and means the stag is turned from his point by man. 



