268 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



more of the pack ten minutes later ; they ran him to 

 Upton Wood and down by Steart to Keenswood above 

 Harford ; he beat up the stream under Ouarkhill to 

 Pullam's mill ; it was now thought that he would leave 

 the coverts ; but he proved too sagacious to commit this 

 error, and turned back on the left over Redcross farm for 

 Storridge Wood, and then by Lyncombe lakes again 

 sought Padwells, and he returned to the covert he was 

 roused from ; on the hounds nearing him he broke for, 

 and soiled in, the river Exe, and broke from it into 

 Execleave, and beat this and Helebridge Wood, and at 

 his old tricks again ; he turned out a young deer, which 

 the pack took after (whilst he lay down), and the hounds 

 could not be stopped until reaching Mountsey Castle ; 

 when they returned only half an hour's daylight remained ; 

 they ran him from Helebridge plantation across the 

 farm and into Pixton Park, the seat of the Earl of 

 Carnarvon, and through it to the river Barle above 

 Perry Weir. He now sank himself in the river, and the 

 hounds passed and repassed him, and as it was now dark 

 further pursuit was at an end. His cunning saved his 

 life. 



April 14th, 1842. — The hounds met at Harford. The 

 tufters found in Haddon, and at length forced a hind 

 into Storridge Wood and brought her to water under 

 Keenswood ; she beat up stream, and under Ouarkhill 

 broke to the left for King's Brompton farm, crossed this 

 and Leigh for Withiel, and on through Ford farm for 

 Brendon Hill ; crossed it for Luxborough, and through 

 Slowly Wood on to Blackhill, as if making for Blue 

 Anchor, but on nearing Dunster Park backed it for 

 Croydon farm and Timberscombe ; she now took up the 



