DEVON AND SOMERSET. ^^ 



this rugged side of Dunkery, where horses might 

 naturally be expected to make many a false step. 



Here it was that the Hunt was overtaken by 

 a most violent thunderstorm in August, 1898, a 

 cloud of inky blackness hanging low over the 

 scene, and just as the hounds were let go the 

 first blinding flash sped straight to Ccirth, appar- 

 ently close in front of the racing pack. Then 

 the storm broke loose ; flash and crash succeeded 

 one another with instant swiftness, horses bolted 

 and horses bucked, and a great silence fell on 

 the usually voluble field, the only spoken words 

 being, "Hi! catch my horse!" or "Oh, stop 

 him!" and all the time the quivering lines of 

 lightning — white, red and violet — stabbed straight 

 down into the dry hillside, and the echo of the 

 thunder crash rolled clown to the combes below 

 and came back with dull reverberation to meet 

 the next tumult. At last there came rain, but 

 not till the centre of the cloud had passed on 

 to the westward and its worst fury was expended. 



How it was that a rushing mass of some two 

 hundred horsemen, galloping straight beneath 

 the cloud, with steel and brass in plenty, was 

 not struck by the levin bolt, seems wonderful 

 when instances of stricken cattle on the hills 

 are so common. But somehow there was no 

 casualty, except amongst the runaway and restive 

 horses, one of which threw its rider in Anni- 

 combe, and gave him a very punishing fall. 



