302 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



the scent, and before reaching the combe, a tally-ho 

 announced that the stag was roused ; he went down the 

 valley and broke on to Oare Common, crossed it for 

 Tumshill, and by Pinford reached the Warren. He now 

 beat up behind Simonsbath and crossed Prayway and 

 Blackpits for the Chains ; left this for Pinkworthy Pond, 

 and over Challacombe Common near the ' Friendship 

 Inn ' ; now backed it for Challacombe village, crossed 

 below the parsonage as if for Shoulsbury Castle, but 

 turned to the right for Whitefield, and leaving Bray to 

 the left made for Bratton Down and on to Bratton Town. 

 Here old and young turned out to enjoy the music of the 

 hounds, which, in years long gone, they used to hear with 

 delight. After beating the covers around Bratton, 

 without finding what, no doubt, he was searching for — a 

 substitute — he was obliged to leave, and after a chase of 

 three hours, with one slight check, was run into and 

 killed at Chilfham Bridge in the vale of Stoke Rivers. 

 The pace over Exmoor was first-rate, and the horses 

 suffered not a little from the heavy state of the ground. 

 Nine only out of a good field in at the death. Old Mr. 

 Snow, of Oare, who was in his seventy-third year, rode 

 this chase, and cut the deer's throat. 



28///. — The meet was Two-gates on Brendon Common. 

 A stag was roused from the North Forest, they ran him 

 to Larkborough and on to Blackburrow on Porlock 

 Common. He now retraced his steps again for Exmoor, 

 reached Orchard Combe, crossed the North Forest for 

 Brendon Common, and on to Farley ; he was here fresh 

 found. He now left Scobhill on the left, passed over 

 Brendon Common for Badgworthy ; he loitered here, 

 and the hounds came up with him. He broke again on 

 to Brendon Common and crossed for Countisbury, taking 



