i84 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



resort for smugglers. The deer swam out from the 

 land for some distance, and the sportsmen were 

 helpless, there being no boat at hand, A trading 

 vessel happened to be going down Channel, and 

 the deer having been espied by the crew, a boat 

 was lowered, and a chase commenced before the 

 eyes of the baffled hunters on the beach. Unde- 

 terred by the loud vociferations of the field, the 

 crew of the boat pulled steadily after the wild 

 animal, and notwithstanding the free use made of 

 the ' women's weapon ' by the gentlemen in pink, 

 the deer soon became a prize to the sailors. He 

 was immediately hoisted on deck, and with three 

 cheers of exultation or derision, the crew trimmed 

 their sails and away went the trader before the 

 wind. After the lapse of some months it was 

 discovered that the captured stag was taken to 

 Cardiff and there sold.'* 



A somewhat similar occurrence took place in 

 1838, during the hind-hunting season. There had 

 been a fine run over the moor from Hawkridge to 

 Simonsbath, when the deer, crossing below Exe- 



* In the Appendix, August i8th, 18 19, something similar seems to 

 have happened to a Jiind. A run in which an incident corresponding 

 with this occurred is recorded in the Appendix, August 19th, 1848 — 

 that is, during the one season of Sir Arthur Chichester's second 

 mastership. — L. J. B. 



