The Chase of the Wild Red Deer in Devonshire 199 



and falling back, and charging again, a footing is made, and 

 all have gone streaming away in the field, which is hidden from 

 our view by the hedge. The riders are all held back until the 

 last hound has successfully cleared the bank, and then we 

 rush on to where the highway crosses the stream. Following 

 the road, we come in view of the field, with the forty-five 

 hounds scattered all over it. They needed Anthony to help 

 them puzzle it out. The trouble is, the deer has evidently 

 doubled her tracks, and possibly redoubled them; hence the 

 confusion: but Anthony riding into the field brings order out 

 of chaos, and lifting the hounds smartly forward, they soon hit 

 off the same line again; and we enjoy a glorious gallop through 

 some beautiful pastures to another check. 



Here we see the hounds doing some beautiful work; their 

 blood is up, but they have overrun the line. Anthony calls 

 them to "hark back." They pick up the trail where it turned 

 sharply to the left, and away they go through a hedge. It is 

 impossible for horses to follow, and the hounds rush away with 

 a chorus of voices that makes our hearts ache. Perhaps it is 

 the last we shall see of the pack to-day ! We follow the know- 

 ing one in a race for the gate leading into the highway, in the 

 direction opposite the way the hounds are running. Those 

 forty rods to the gate ! It seemed as if our horses, going at the 

 top of their speed, would never reach there. There is a small 

 boy right at the gate, and he opens it in time — may his sins 

 to this hour be forgiven! 



Down the highway we gallop for half a mile ; then stop and 

 listen. "They are still running on," says one; "we shall see 

 them no more to-day." "No, they are coming this way!" cries 

 another. "What shall we do? Where shall we go?" Such 

 are the questions and thoughts running through everyone's 

 mind. The old hunting rule, "When you don't know where 

 to go, stand still," is all that seems to save us from going mad. 

 Suddenly the hounds appear from behind a field of timber 



