DEVON AND SOMERSET. 55 



a sweltering August afternoon, well sheltered 

 from every possible breath of air and baked 

 with pitiless sun glare, produces a cloud of dust 

 that must be seen and felt to be dulv appre- 

 ciated. For a long two miles river and road 

 wind ever side by side down this romantic 

 valley, while the great woods overhang the 

 depths, reaching on one side in one continuous 

 chain of dense greenery that touches the skv 

 line, and falls with great abruptness right down 

 to the dancing water. While the great hounds 

 push on through the cool, shady depths, follow- 

 ing the warm foil along the winding deer paths 

 between the tree stems, the field cannot well 

 avoid packing together on the hard, high road, 

 inasmuch as it is necessary to leave the wood- 

 land hunting tracks to the huntsman. 



Certain favourite places there are where a 

 view of the hunted deer can generally be 

 obtained, and a close view of the chosen animal 

 is sometimes of great importance in staghunting, 

 inasmuch as there is no animal more cunning 

 in shifting the burden of pursuit to his friends 

 when he thinks he has had enough of it him- 

 self. These viewing places generally have their 

 complement of foot people, who on fine days in 

 autumn show great interest in the sport, and in 

 many parts of the country on each successive 

 season the same fields and trees have the 

 same occupants. 



