246 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



up to Dulverton bridge. He beat up and down the 

 bridge pool for an hour, with the whole pack swimming 

 after him. He was killed in the Ham, just above the 

 bridge. It was a grand sight this for the Dulvertonians ; 

 and the bridge, with all its approaches, was literally 

 crammed with sightseers. This was a very old deer, and 

 ran so short as to give his pursuers much trouble. 



August iSt/i, 1 8 19. — Met at Porlock, and tufted Park- 

 wood and Fernays blank. In Berry Castle they found a 

 hind and calf, and as the hounds wanted blood, the pack 

 was laid on under Buckethole. She crossed to Stokehill, 

 and up by Fernyball to Nutscale, and on over the 

 common to the Exford road. She now turned to the 

 right, and sank the bottom to Wear Wood ; then broke up 

 over the common for Countisbury, crossed the Lynton 

 road and down Coscombe to Yeanery Wood. She lay 

 fast, and the hounds fresh found her ; and after rattling 

 her through the coverts, she went to sea. Before a boat 

 could be procured, a sloop going up channel saw her, and 

 put out a boat, caught her, and carried her away. 



August 2^th. — The hounds met at Grey stone Gate, 

 near Withypoole Hill, and found a stag in Hayes Wood. 

 He first made for the common, but was blanched ; now 

 turned back to Ham Coppice, and over to Bradley Ham, 

 went down to Little Bradley and Knaplock, to Tarrwood ; 

 crossed the river at Tarrsteps into South Barton Wood, 

 and recrossed it to Ashway Hat. Here, owing to another 

 stag having been disturbed, which took the same route, 

 the hounds changed and ran the fresh stag through 

 Marsh Close to North Hawkridge Ridge ; he now crossed 

 over into Durham Wood. Here he beat out two hinds, 

 which the pack viewed to Mountsey Castle, and went 



