PERFORMANCES OF DKUID. 321 



places, when they enter the wood; but in the middle of 

 the cover they almost meet when they cross the main 

 ride, and flow on thus to the Efford stream, joining it 

 close by Christchnrcli railway station. Tliese streams 

 may be about four or five feet in the bank, but are 

 very shallow, just rippling over the bright gravel; 

 knee-deep to a deer in some places, in others just 

 above the foot. The young oak trees are high, and the 

 cover liollow, near these streams, and a deer or hound 

 can be seen, in places, many hundred yards from the 

 main ride. Tlie first time, after a chase of nearly five 

 hours, that Druid fairly hunted down a doe, was in 

 Holmesley Enclosure and its environs, when, finding 

 that the doe was beaten, and hanging to " soil," as 

 we term it, or water, I posted myself on the main 

 ride, as much in command of the streams as possible. 

 Further up the stream, and further down, at times, 

 I heard Druid at fault ; his heavy tongue, tliat had 

 been knelling the death of the deer all day, would be 

 silent for a quarter of an hour together, and then 

 ring on ag;nn. I knew well what was the matter, 

 and that the deer was keeping the water, and chang- 

 ing from stream to stream, and that Druid could 

 not make her out ; the nature of our sport, however, 

 admitted of but little aid from a huntsman : in this 

 case the liuntsman's help was in the rifle ; the hound 

 must learn of himself to overcome all difficulties- 

 After a time, Druid went on again, and several of 

 these checks happened when I could not see what 

 took place, although I knew it all as well as if I had 

 seen it. Soon afterwards the doe came in view a long 

 way a-head of the hound, as I could hear by his 

 tongue, very much beaten, and stopping frequently to 

 listen. She entered one of the streams, and walked 



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