102 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



Now Bondleigh parish hears the uproar wild : 

 Out rushes every woman, every child, 

 Whilst pigs, geese, turkeys, women, children, vie 

 In a shrill scream that almost rends the sky. 

 Reckless the hounds dash on— their game's afore ! 

 The earths at Bondleigh Wood, well known of yore, 

 He tries ; but vain his hopes of shelter there- 

 Gabriel and Marksman thunder at his rear : 

 He takes the water next with desperate bound. 

 Swims fearless through, and gains the further ground— 

 A. moment pauses — shakes his fur-clad sides. 

 Then hastens to the copse with lengthen'd strides, 

 And breath recovers — leaving for a space 

 His followers, fretting at their dire disgrace : 

 But short his triumph— short-lived every dream 

 Of safety proves, for, dashing at the stream. 

 The Squire and Mufti stagger boldly tlirough : 

 Then Cottleswood soon hears the wild halloo ; 

 Whilst Boniface takes up the scent, and deep 

 His gallant chiding echoes up the steep. 



Splashing and splasht, the rest, no matter how, 

 Contrive to stem Taw's (1) muddy wave, and now 

 Hounds, horses, and their riders see once more 

 In safety landed on the other shore : 

 One luckleis v:iglit{2), as up the bank he goes, 

 Falls back, and plunges in o'er ears and nose — 

 The suff'rer's name it lists me not declare. 

 Perhaps it was myself, perhaps some other there. 

 And now again their speed outstrips the wind. 

 And soon the Ashridge Oaks are left behind. 

 For Milsum Castle next their course was bent. 

 Poor Reynard ! now thy strength is almost spent. 

 To Brushford Wood rush on with all thy speed. 

 And gain the sheltering earths— great is thy need ! 

 But ah ! in vain each quiv'ring nerve he strains — 

 In vain he presses over Milsum plains ! 

 At each step falt'ring, faint he staggers on. 

 And every hope of safety now is gone ; 

 For near and nearer still, with eager cry. 

 His rav'nous foes their untired sinews ply ; 

 And whilst their flagging game they swift pursue, 

 In speed each strives the other to outdo. 



1 The river Taw, running under Chulmleigh, empties itself into the sea below 

 Barnstaple. 



2 J. M. W— lie— be, Esq. 



