APPENDIX 285 



the road leading to Exford, divided on Lucott Hill, one 

 making as if for Porlock, and the other for Horner wood ; 

 the body of the pack brought their stag into the Shillets ; 

 he here waited for them, and broke all but in view over 

 Porlock Hill, by Whitestones, as if making for Culbone 

 coverts, but skirting these, passed through the enclosures 

 and again sought the open, and crossed the common 

 secondly for Oareford ; beat down stream a quarter of a 

 mile, and broke on the Culbone side, slanted the hill, and 

 came again to water below Oare Church ; beat down half 

 a mile, broke on the Countisbury side, passed over Hall 

 farm and reached the hill, and crossed it for Wind- 

 stitching ; here the pack bayed him as he stood on a rock 

 for safety, but in a few minutes obliged him to seek other 

 quarters. He now leapt down about four feet on to the 

 ledge of another rock, where it was impossible for the 

 hounds to get at him ; no doubt thinking himself safe, 

 he lay down exhausted. Several foot-people attempted 

 in vain to reach him ; eventually, by throwing stones at 

 him, he was driven off, and made a bound for the beach, 

 a distance of sixty feet ; he so injured himself that he 

 could not go to sea, and was easily captured. This chase 

 lasted three hours and a half, the hounds got blood as 

 they deserved, a great desideratum, at the beginning of 

 a season, in my opinion. 



August 28//^, 1856. — The fixture Dulverton ; but the 

 pack was taken to Blackmore's cottage, who reported 

 a brace of good stags in Horsecombe Wood. A heavy 

 thunderstorm prevented trying for them until half-past 

 twelve o'clock. The tufters soon found, and one of the 

 stags breaking on to the hill for Harford Cleave, the pack 

 was quickly laid on him. He beat the Haddon coverts 



