OF TUFTING. 75 



if they have been kept free of any other herds, are 

 best part of the way to Woolhanger or Culbone 

 before the tufters take up the Hne again, and, before 

 the big stag is separated, he will have travelled many 

 miles, and the chance of a gallop will probably be 

 lost 



The plan usually adopted is to take about ten 

 couple of hounds, leaving the pack with the whip in 

 attendance at Toms Hill, or the Shepherd's Cottage 

 in Badgworthy. The field are invited to come with 

 tufters, as hounds will be allowed to run on. The 

 field picks its way carefully over the somewhat 

 treacherous going on Toms Hill Allotment ; is 

 delighted with itself at getting over Little Pinford 

 with only two or three empty saddles ; reaches the 

 edge of Biiscombe, and there in its peaty depths lies 

 the herd. They jump up, eight or nine of them, 

 hounds catch a view, and away they go at a pace 

 which defies all efforts to catch them. 



Then there is a scatter. Tucker goes oneway and 

 the Master another to circumvent the bad ground, 

 so that one will be right whichever way they turn. 

 Lord Fortescue, the owner of the land, strides away 

 over the bad ground as if it were turf, followed by a 

 crowd who find his lead is one not easy to live up to. 

 Far ahead five deer can be seen bending away left- 

 handed. Tucker, racing forward, stops two couples 

 of hounds — a third couple has gone on. No matter, 

 they will keep the deer moving and out of mischief. 

 As we come on to sounder p;round we can see hounds 



