298 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



hounds that stuck to and ran up the deer. The pack 

 was laid on at a quarter to five P.M., and the stag was 

 killed by starlight about eight : it was so dark under 

 Slowly Wood that the sportsmen could not see the deer, 

 and only knew him to be in the stream from the hounds, 

 and the noise he made going down the water. The late 

 Lord Fortescue, when commanding the stag-hounds, would 

 never lay on the pack after three P.M., and it is a pity 

 this rule should ever be departed from : the custom was, 

 if a runable deer could not be found by three, to kennel 

 the hounds, and try again next day. 



October 8//z. — This, the last day for stag-hunting for 

 this season, although it began badly, ended in a good 

 run with a kill. Slowly Wood was the fixture ; but as no 

 stag was in covert, the pack trotted back to Haddencot. 

 The tufters soon found in Deer Park, and the stag broke 

 for Haddon Hill ; here the pack was laid on him, and 

 ran him to Harford Cleave and into Haddon Wood, and 

 through it to Wind Corner; he now soiled in the Haddeo, 

 and broke from it for Padwells, and passing behind 

 Baronsdown House came to water on the Exe, under 

 Stockham ; beat up stream to near Chilleybridge and 

 then backed it to Barledge; broke from the river into Exe- 

 cleave and then on to Heatheridge and over Courtdown 

 for Highercombe; leaving the house on the left, got to 

 Winsford Hill, and kept it for its whole length to 

 Bradley Ham, and lay fast in the wood ; he was here 

 fresh found ; soiled in the Barle, beat down a short 

 distance, and then backed it again for the wood, and 

 recrossed the Ham again for Winsford Hill; crossed 

 to Ashwood and up over the farm for Bye Common, and 

 descended to the Exe just below the Warren, and beat 



