148 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



better than in the previous run, but the time was less 

 in all. But our panting horses were not to have 

 their well-earned rest yet. The stag had turned to 

 bay on the side of a steep cutting where no one could 

 have got at him. After facing the baying pack for a 

 few minutes he broke his bay, making as if for Leigh 

 "Hill, but he was unequal to the effort required, and. 

 turned again seaward. Past Holnicote he went, and 

 a furlong from the shore he again faced his foes in 

 an angle betw r een two stone walls. His one horn 

 completely kept the pack off, and, strange to say, his 

 boldest adversary was a small cottager's cur which 

 had joined in the chase. Probably he did not know 

 his danger as the great hounds did. 



Presently he scrambled over the wall at his back, 

 and running over the stony beach, plunged into the 

 Severn Sea, followed by the pack, and disappeared 

 from our sight round the great cliffs of Bossington 

 Point. Time, one hour and forty-five minutes from 

 the moment hounds were laid on. 



What was to be done ? No boat was available, 

 but our Master was a man of resource. A coasting 

 schooner was beating down Channel on the ebb tide, 

 and at her next tack she was hailed. 



" Will you lend us a boat to take our stag ? " 



"Your what?" 



" The deer. Send your boat ashore and you shall 

 have a sovereign." 



This was plain enough to anybody, and smartly 

 the craft was hove to and her boat lowered. Two 

 hands rowed ashore to us, and Anthony was put on 



