436 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



in the second field by holdino- too much to the left, and did 

 not show again until the check at Rettendon. The first fiight 

 consisted of Henry Petre on a roan, F. Barker, Capt. Pearson, 

 Shave, Poole, " The Baroness," Harrison, and William Barker, 

 up to Rettendon. Basil Sparrow started well and meant going, 

 but the ground was too heavy and he also, and the pace too 

 good for his horse to hold his own. 



At Rettendon we got the stag into a yard, and thought the 

 run was over, and in came dropping some of the others, viz., 

 our Master, F. Petre, Glyn and George Sullins on their two 

 greys, Heatley, Firmin, Albert Petre, and Patmore. But our 

 stag would not be taken, and did not appear to have had nearly 

 so much as some of the horses, for he jumped the rails out of 

 the yard, and away he went over a very deep country, grass 

 and plough both very holding, roadways like quagmires. Big 

 banks and fences, with a few^ little bogs by way of variety and 

 relief, until we ran down to a tidal creek or branch of the river 

 Crouch, with mud banks of unknown depth and tenacity. 



The only three horses that lived with the hounds up to this 

 point were Capt. Pearson's, "The Baroness," and Shave's ; and 

 these three, after hounds had crossed the creek, persevered 

 along its sides, jumping some very awkward places until we 

 came to a sort of ford, which we got over, or rather through, 

 with a struggle and a scramble. The few other horses in the 

 rear, seeing us in difficulties at the creek, turned away, making 

 for some recognised place of crossing. The three of us now 

 rejoined the hounds, and kept with them to a farm yard, where 

 our stag took refuge among the cattle and ran with them round 

 the yard. 



Here he was pluckily tackled by Capt. Pearson, who got 

 hold of his ears, but before Shave and myself could lay hold of 

 the animal among the cattle, the gallant Cajjtain was knocked 

 over by a bullock, and the stag jumped (jver the rails and made 

 away for the river Crouch. 



Had we had a line, or could we have induced either of the 

 two yokels who stood open-mouthed and aghast, one in and 

 one just outside the yard, to render the slightest assistance, we 

 should have captured him. The river was within a mile of the 

 farm yard, and here he took refuge, unreachable by us, for our 

 horses dare not venture upon the treacherous boggy saltings ; 

 having run from Rettendon in twenty-five minutes, including 

 the check there and at the farmyard, a good thirteen miles in 

 one hour and five minutes, in as heavy and sticky, and in as 

 deep, dirty, and holding a country as it was possible to be. 



