70 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



past him, but eventually one of those on the 

 watch is certain to catch a view of the deer which 

 hounds are running, and see that it is not the one 

 wanted. Tufters are then stopped and tried back, 

 generally by laying them on the heel line, when they 

 work back to where the change took place, and once 

 more have the warrantable stag on foot. Sometimes 

 this manoeuvre has to be carried out again and again, 

 and much time is expended before the stag can be 

 forced to i^y over the open. On some scentless days, 

 indeed, deer have been known to defy all efforts to 

 dislodge them, especially in big woodlands like the 

 hanging coverts above Porlock Weir and in Horner. 

 The necessity for keeping the field together and 

 out of covert must be obvious at once. It is essential 

 for the hunt servants to get about in covert as quickly 

 as they can, and if the paths are choked up with a 

 crowd of people they cannot do so. In thick woods 

 with the leaf on, much depends on the huntsman being 

 able to hear distinctly. One can frequently hear a 

 stag moving in covert by the rattling of his antlers 

 against the coppice wood. A change in the leading 

 hound generally betokens a change of direction, 

 sometimes a change of deer. It is essential that 

 nothing should intefere with the huntsman's hearing 

 all that goes on ; but if the field are in covert they 

 are certain to chatter, in addition to the unavoidable 

 noise made by their horses. Moreover, it is in the 

 interests of the field themselves, for there is no time 

 cut to waste now^adays when once the deer has gone 



