THE CHASE OF A HIND. 113 



strong influence on the run of a hind and causes her, 

 especially early in the season, to keep ringing round 

 to the same country where she left it and her other 

 companions, hoping no doubt in her mind that by 

 transferring the pursuit to one of her sisters she may 

 be left free to go quietly away and see to the well- 

 being of her offspring. This desire, which is so 

 strong in the first weeks of the season, wears off 

 somewhat later on, as the calves get older and 

 stronger, and then it is that hinds begin to run 

 straight, and some of those wild, exciting gallops 

 take place which make the lucky participators 

 declare, especially if they have got their secon^ 

 horses at the right moment, that there is no com- 

 parison between the runs afforded by a hind and a 

 stag. 



On January ist, 1905, hounds met at Challacombe 

 and found a herd in Longstone Bog, at 10.55, ^^^ 

 moor being dry for the time of year and in capital 

 galloping order, but carrying a breast-high scent. 

 Hounds raced almost in view back to Swincombe 

 Rocks and round under them to Pinkworthy, where 

 a single hind separated and hounds settled on her 

 line. The hind turned northwards on to Lynton 

 Common and sped away, by the well-known line of 

 the " Lower Crossings," over Cheriton Ridge and 

 acoss the Brendon road by Dry Bridges, and right 

 on to the Deer Park. This was the luckiest line the 

 hind could have taken, for there was a burning 

 scent, and it would have been next to impossible for 



I 



