222 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



was surprising that he stood the distance, over twenty 

 miles in two hours and a quarter. 



1795. — In the spring of this year, Colonel Bassett was 

 much vexed by the pack killing sheep again, from which 

 they had been free for a year ; no doubt they were 

 corrupted by a buckhound, from the New Forest, which, 

 with three of the supposed ringleaders, died by the halter. 

 Six hinds were killed from 26th April to May loth; on 

 the 17th of May, the seventh hind succumbed to the 

 pack, after a chase of seven hours. She was found at 

 New Invention, near Dulverton, and killed at Winsford, 

 having first broke to the moor, as if making for North- 

 molton, but on reaching Twitching, turned to the right, 

 and broke in over, as if for Longwood, but skirting this, 

 she broke up over Yarddown, and turning to the right, 

 crossed over Emmetts for Cow Castle, and beat down 

 the Barle to near Sherdon Hutch ; now quitted the 

 river for Fernyball, crossed on to Withypoole Common, 

 and on for Hawkridge Common, passing over it from end 

 to end, and descending through Rowdown Wood, again 

 took the Barle under Ashway, passed over the farm, and 

 came to water again below Tarrwood, and crossed into 

 North Barton Wood ; she now beat up to Hindspool, and 

 up the little water to Westwater farm, and broke to the 

 right for Bradley Ham, which she crossed for Winsford 

 Hill, and after a sharp gallop across it, tried for shelter in 

 Burrow Wood ; but it was of no use, her staunch pursuers 

 forced her from it, and passing over Farm, she sought the 

 river Exe, and beat down to below Winsford Mill, where 

 she was run into. Out of a very large field, only Mr. 

 Boyce and Joe Faulkner witnessed the death. This 

 chase was run in heavy rain, which caused most of the 

 sportsmen to give up. 



