212 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



Here a most terrific thunderstorm of nearly two hours' 

 duration overtook us, drenching every one to the skin, 

 and beating the hounds almost into the ground. At its 

 cessation, we moved towards Blackpits ; here the hounds 

 feathered on, but could not acknowledge, the scent ; but 

 the deer could be slotted (although his tracks were filled 

 with water) on to Prayway, and in over the hill to Simons- 

 bath inclosures ; a hound or two here acknowledged the 



Horner Mill. 



scent and brought him to water on the Barle above 

 Simonsbath ; he beat up stream and took the little water 

 to Cornham, and broke from it for Filedon ridge and 

 down over Yarddown to Longwood ; here he was fresh 

 found, and after a burst of twenty-five minutes, we killed 

 him under Old Park below Northmolton mines. This 

 deer was known to be over twenty years old ; he was 

 a very good stag in 1775, and often afforded a fine 

 day's sport, but always until now eluded his pursuers : he 



