258 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



plantation on the Common, He now backed it as if for 

 his old haunts at Haddon, but was blanched, and turning 

 to the right by Goose Moor, he reached Armer planta- 

 tion ; he left this for Beatland brake, but broke from it 

 before the hounds came up again for Brendon Hill, and 

 crossed into Lype plantation ; he now beat down the 

 valley to Timberscombe ; the hounds checked on the 

 water below this and never recovered the scent. 



August 26th, 1823. — This day the hounds ran a stag 

 which had been imported from Badminton Park. The 

 hounds soon ran into him ; in fact, he had no go in him. 



2gth. — The meet this day was at Bray, and a fine stag 

 was found. He broke for Exmoor immediately ; crossed 

 above Emmetts for Cornham brake, then over Durdown 

 to Pray way, and pointed for Badgworthy, but turned to 

 the right for Orchardcombe, crossed the Exe for Honey- 

 mead, and came to water above Cow Castle ; beat down 

 to Sherdon Hutch, broke to the right between this and 

 Landacre Bridge, crossed Withypoole Common for the 

 plantation on Hawkridge Common ; he now crossed for 

 Lyshwell, broke on to West Anstey Common, and came to 

 water on the Danesbrook ; having soiled he left the river 

 at the same place he entered it, and took up over East 

 Anstey Common. A long check now took place. The 

 hounds were cast back a mile and a half, and then tried 

 back and above the spot at which the deer came to water. 

 At length, one of the hounds gave it on the heath towards 

 Vennford. The hounds had now very cold hunting, but 

 held him on in over the hill to the enclosures, and on to 

 Barton Wood ; they ran him through it into Liscombe 

 furzebrake ; he had evidently stopped here, for the scent 

 improved. After running him a few fields towards 



