The Chase of the Wild Bed Deer in Devonshire 201 



what is left of them — but a field behind the hounds and in 

 full view of the deer. The deer is running slower and is 

 apparently almost exhausted. The hounds also are slackening 

 their pace, while there is nothing left of the horses, save their 

 breeding. They stagger on, however, but are no longer able to 

 answer to whip or spur. 



One more field! It looks as if the hounds would overtake 

 their deer in the next field. The foremost hounds are scarcely 

 a rod from their prize. Anthony is right after them, cheer- 

 ing them on to the last mighty effort. Can the hind reach the 

 river bank? Yes! With Anthony's favourite hound, Sleepless, 

 right at her heels, she leaps into the river twenty feet below, 

 and swims for the opposite bank. The hounds attempt to 

 follow, but Anthony calls them back. 



Taking a fisherman's row boat Anthony with the "whipper- 

 in" and three hounds, rowed across the river. The steep, 

 muddy sandbanks being impassable, the deer, seeing them 

 coming, takes to the water again. The boat, however, soon 

 overtakes her, and a rope is thrown over the head of the deer, 

 which keeps on swimming, towing the boat along with her. 

 They pull the boat alongside, and Anthony blindfolds the 

 deer with his handkerchief. The three men now tip the boat 

 to one side, and all taking hold of the deer lift her as high as 

 possible, bringing her sides well up against the gunwale of the 

 boat; then, rocking the boat back, at the same time lifting the 

 deer, they land her on her back in the boat; next they tie her 

 legs and bring her ashore, where she is despatchd with a hunt- 

 ing knife ; the "pluck" given to the hounds, and the feet ampu- 

 tated at the fetlock joint and given to whomsoever the JNIaster 

 wishes to honour. The carcass is given to a butcher or some 

 one who is directed by the ^Master to distribute it among the 

 farmers over whose land the chase has gone. The head, how- 

 ever, is presented to the writer, who has it mounted and now 

 admires it on the wall facing his writing desk. It was the end 



