282 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



Cheriton for the Chains on Exmoor. It was determined 

 to lay on the hounds, and it was at once evident that 

 first-rate horses and riders only had any business with 

 the work before them ; passing over the Chains the deer 

 crossed Exehead for Duredon and Tydecombe, and 

 soiled for a minute in the stream above Cornham. At 

 this place the sportsmen had an opportunity of showing 

 their pluck, by taking the awkward fence into this narrow 

 stream, with a drop of about seven feet. C. H. Gardner, 

 Esq. of Dulverton, alone rode at it, the others, leading 

 over, and now came the most trying work of all, to 

 ascend up the Acland allotment on to Fiveburrows ; 

 from the steep hill and heavy ground the field had be- 

 come very select ; on reaching Yard Down, not more than 

 ten with the hounds. The hind now led them to Bray, and 

 through the farms of Muxworthy and Stockley she gained 

 Showlesborough Castle ; she had now run about fourteen 

 miles without a check ; Challacombe Common was now 

 crossed, and passing from it she lay fast in an oat-field ; 

 but old ' Bertram ' and her other inveterate pursuers would 

 allow of no respite, and she was obliged soon to leave with 

 the pack at her haunches ; she again faced the open and 

 crossed the wet ground on Woodburrow, and then down 

 to Woolhanger ; but disdaining the shelter of the coverts 

 below, she now backed it once more for the open hills 

 on Challacombe Common, thence to the Paracombe en- 

 closures, about five minutes before the pack. A check 

 now took place, and an unfortunate cast allowed her to 

 get to what no doubt she considered a more comfortable 

 distance from them. Old 'Bertram,' as usual, again hit 

 off the scent, and ran her through the cabbage-beds by 

 Paracombe mill ; she was now tally-hoed by the villagers, 



