256 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



Exe and crossed it to Stillvvells, then into Highwood, on 

 to Bryant's copse, and then to South Stuckeridge Wood, 

 thence to North Stuckeridge Wood, thence to East- 

 steps, then to Langridge, and down the Brushford 

 valley to Broxbridge. Here the hounds caught a 

 view and nearly pulled her down ; she got away, and 

 went up for Brushford village and to Ellerswood ; then 

 she soiled in the river Barle above Newbridge, and broke 

 from it into Pixton Park, and went its whole length 

 under the house ; she cleared the pales forming its fence, 

 and made for Heleball Wood, and came to water on the 

 Exe, just below Barlinch Abbey, beat up and broke out 

 into Brockhole Wood, and crossed the park under 

 Baronsdown House into Barlinch Wood ; they here 

 came up with her, and ran her in view back to the river 

 and down to Cartersham, where she was killed. This 

 chase was two hours and a quarter, the fastest on record. 

 The hounds did not stop hind-hunting this year until 

 after the 22nd of June, although they began early in 

 February. On the 6th of August, they found a brace 

 of stags in South Barton Wood, Hawkridge. One was 

 singled out and the pack laid on him. He crossed for 

 Hawkridge Ridge, came to water below Sladewood, beat 

 down, broke from it into Brewer's Castle, crossed 

 from it into Durham, thence over North Moor, to 

 Thunderball, and to water again at New Invention ; 

 broke from it into Marsh Wood, thence to Ballneck, and 

 up the bottom to Highercombe. broke on to Winsford 

 Hill, and then turned to the right for Broford Wood, and 

 left it for the Barle river above Kent's weir ; beat down 

 and broke just below Chilley Bridge for Dawes and 

 Oxgrove ; broke over the hill for Padwells, and through 



