STAG HUNTING ON EXMOOR 4OI 



by the appearance of a noble stag, said to be live or six years 

 old, with full antlers, bounding along the side of the opposite 

 slope and getting through the underwood with surprising 

 facility. 



How different are the feelinofs in viewino- this wild denizen 

 of moor and ravine careerino- over his native wild in the full 

 enjoyment of perfect freedom and liberty, in all the glory of his 

 unshorn antlers, to those with which we regard the half 

 domesticated animal turned out of the deer-cart and gazing 

 around in undecided bewilderment before he determines upon 

 his course. The wild red-deer, like a fox, knows the country 

 and therefore makes his point, and sometimes without regard 

 to wind or impediments. Thus our stag, whom the natives 

 declared looked a galloper and proved the truth of their antici- 

 pations, after displaying himself to perfection over the cleared 

 ground on the opposite side of the ravine, crossed the ravine, 

 ascended the slope and crossed the road in front of the whole 

 field and within a few yards of me and went away over a 

 heathery hill, called Beacon Hill, from the summit of which a 

 glorious prospect is spread before you. 



The ridino- here was sina^ular to a stranger, the heather was 

 quite as high and frequently higher than the horses' knees and 

 so thick as effectually to conceal stones, cart ruts and rabbit 

 holes, and yet we all rode right across it as hard as we could 

 gallop, making the horses look fine from their high action, 

 while the perspiration streamed from my brow from the severe 

 and unusual exercise. Luckily there were very few, if any, 

 rabbit holes, and so it was not so bad as it looked. There 

 were very few fences, but very queer places to ride up and 

 down, requiring the small and cat-like animals of the country to 

 do them cleverly. The hounds were fast but not verv level, 

 owing to the old pack having been broken up. These are kept 

 by Mr. Carew, the Master of the Tiverton Hounds, a good- 

 natured, well fed and happy, and easy looking and going indi- 

 vidual, who like most Masters of hounds, seems an enthusiast 

 on hunting without being a hard rider. The Huntsman is a 

 surprising instance in favour of hunting as an inducement to 

 health, activity and longevity. He is 75 years old and yet 

 rides down these breakneck places and over this very wild, 

 rough and stony country, and though never, even when young, 

 much of a rider, yet has always managed to fulfil his prediction 

 of himself that "He would be with his hounds whenever they 

 wanted him." 



We ran our stag for nearly six hours and finally had to give 



26 VOL. II 



