104 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



to the upper ford of the Badgworthy Water. 

 Up over Manor Allotment with hounds bearing 

 away on the right as if for Larkbarrow ; but they 

 leave it on one side and the chase sweeps on. 

 Down and up at Stowford Crossing, fording the 

 headings of the Chalk Water, and straight on 

 over the short young heather of Outer Alscott — 

 a part of Mill Hill— to the Weir Water and 

 Porlock Allotment. Then there is a gradual 

 rise to the Exford Road that tells terribly on 

 all the horses that are carrying weight. In the 

 road Lord Ebrington hnds a fresh horse where- 

 with to face Lucott Moor, from the top of 

 which the Horner coverts heave in sight. Some 

 dash on through Lucott Farm, others by Wil- 

 mersham and Cloutsham. The stag holds on 

 almost to Horner mill, then turns off right- 

 handed for Chapel plantation. Most of the 

 hounds have straggled in coming down through 

 the woods, but a few work on. Huxtable is at 

 hand, and sees the stag come doubling back 

 under Horner mill with one hound at his 

 haunches. He toils up the stream to East 

 Water Foot and there stands at bay with the 

 single hound at 2.30, just two hours from when 

 he was found, the distance in a straight line 

 from point to point being sixteen miles, and the 

 total probablv over twenty. The horn soon 

 brought up more hounds and he broke away 

 down stream to the mill, where he was taken on 



