CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 131 



hart at once constituting himself their protector and 

 champion, and placing himself in such a position as 

 best suited to enable him to direct and control the 

 movements and tactics of his dependents. 



Of late years, however, the piece of land has been 

 thrown into a farm, and the deer, disturbed and 

 interfered with, have, to a considerable extent, 

 abandoned the neighbourhood. While speaking of 

 Exmoor, I must not forget to record how ably and 

 zealously Mr Knight's tenants have seconded their 

 landlord's efforts to preserve the deer and foster the 

 ancient sport. There are some of them who are no 

 mean performers across country, from whom few 

 men will ride away, and whom many may think 

 fortunate if they keep in sight, when a stag is afoot, 

 and the hounds are racing on a burning scent across 

 the moor. 



Let me <rive a word or two of advice to those who 

 may one day pay the West a visit, in order to 

 witness that sport which in these pages I have 

 described. Beware of the treacherous ground over 

 which your course lies ; keep your eyes well to the 

 fore, or most assuredly you will come to harm. 

 There are on the moor, and frequendy on the tops 

 of the hills, some soft spongy tracts, which I call 

 bogs (though I have heard Mr Frederick Knight 



