224 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



several minutes. The other tufters got to his assistance, 

 and obh'ged him to break, and the pack was laid on at 

 Hillball ; from this he sought Youlstone, and on to 

 Wooly Down and Cotbridge ; now beat up the water to 

 Arlington, broke out at Thommersbridge, and kept up 

 the bottom to Deerpark Wood and to Postgate ; the 

 hounds viewed him over Tydecombe Down to Button- 

 bridge. He now took the water, and kept it to By-Park, 

 leaving it on the right for Southcott, and then over 

 Bratton Down and Stoke Down to Wort Wood ; now 

 crossed for Gratton, and up over Whitefield Down, and 

 on to Fiveburrows, as if intending to try Exmoor, but 

 the pack was so close on to him, that he turned back in 

 view to Broadwood, at which he was killed. The pace 

 was such that the huntsman's horse, a real good one, 

 died in the field. 



1796. — Several puppies were entered this year in the 

 spring, at ten months old ; this may do for fox or hare- 

 hunting, but staghounds should be fourteen or fifteen 

 months old before entering. The long runs and hard 

 work they sometimes get, so affects them, that they 

 seldom or ever get over the straining and sprains they 

 naturally endure to keep up with the pack. Four stags 

 only were killed this autumn ; a dense fog prevented the 

 hounds going out for a fortnight. 



1797. — After a brilliant run with a hind, she went to 

 sea at Coscombe, between Porlock and Lynmouth. Old 

 ' Aimwell ' leapt on her back as she took the water, and 

 was carried out nearly a league : the hind was drowned, 

 but the hound swam ashore. 



August 24///. — Found a brace of stags in Whimbleball 

 Wood, near Harford ; they ran together to Hawkridge. 



