154 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



again to stretch across the moor, and if possible 

 to seek safety among the herd on Scob Hill, whose 

 numbers saved him only last week. 



Away ! away ! over the stone walls and across 

 the forest. Fortunately not one deer is in the 

 line to divert the attention of the hounds ; though 

 far to the left the forms of some fifteen or twenty 

 deer are to be seen against the sky-line, whose 

 watchful eyes and ears have seen sights or heard 

 sounds which bode danger, and which warn them 

 to be on the alert. The Master goes gallantly 

 'to the fore' on ' Litde Nell,' though his head-dress, 

 consisting of a ' bandana ' twisted about his brows, 

 looks rather ' out of order.' He had a hat, however, 

 but in the deep ground the other side of the last 

 wall he shook it off, and in the next stride ' Little 

 Nell's ' forefoot planted it two feet deep in a bog. 

 Onward stride the hounds, mute as mice, and the 

 select few ride anxiously and carefully, hands well 

 down and helping their horses as best they can, 

 each man wishing in his heart of hearts that there 

 may be a friendly check ere long, except perhaps 

 old Mr Snow, of Oare, whose three score years 

 and ten have not tamed the warmth of his blood 

 or his ardour in the chase, and who now is in the 

 very height of his happiness, for below him he sees 



