THE CHASE OF THE WILD DEER. 153 



killed him. The same luck followed us on the 

 following Thursday, when again we changed from a 

 hind to a doe a short time after laying on the pack. 



On Thursday, the 23rd, it was blowing a gale of 

 wind. The tufters found five hinds in Ashley Wood, 

 and a very pretty sight it was to see them run 

 across the long stretch of open moor to Appleslade, 

 where unfortunately we lost sight of the tufters, and 

 the gale which was blowing prevented our hearing 

 them. The Master feared if he laid on to these 

 hinds we should lose the pack, so decided against 

 the red deer. Laid on to a doe which had been 

 viewed at the bottom of Appleslade Wood, hounds 

 ran fast uphill and across the plain to Oakley Wood 

 and back again. Then on again they ran, but to 

 cut a long story short, after an hour and a half's 

 fast run, they ran among a lot of bucks in Puckpits 

 Wood, and had to be stopped. This was the last 

 of my seven days with these hounds, but my luck 

 had not done with me. Having to go to London 

 on the 3Oth, I elected to hunt with the New Forest 

 Foxhounds, which were nearer than the Deerhounds, 

 so as to make sure of catching a train between four 

 and five. Our sport was moderate, but with the Deer- 

 hounds it was different, as the Master's perseverance 

 was rewarded at last. After a very fine run lasting 

 some hours, they killed a young hind near Fording- 

 bridge, at the extreme north-west corner of the 

 Forest. 



It may seem presumptuous to pass an opinion on 

 a pack of which, after all, I saw so little, but my 



