DEVON AND SOMERSET. 119 



A glorious run took place at a by-meet on 

 the Friday preceding the opening meet of 1893 

 from Culbone Stables, when a good galloping 

 straight-necked stag was roused in Metcombe 

 Plantations and sent straight to the Forest. The 

 tufters had been at work only a few minutes 

 when they opened on this gallant beast, who 

 beat round the head of Lillicombe, and then 

 sinking to the Weir water at Robber's Bridge, 

 set his head proudly for the open by w^ay of 

 Mill Hill. Even from the first it was evident 

 that scent was not of the very best or strongest, 

 the pack dashing off with a rather uncertain 

 drive, but over the open moorland a degree or 

 two of scent more or less seems to matter but 

 little ; the swampy surface always holds scent 

 enough to enable hounds to outpace all horses 

 but the very best and boldest. 



And now let me take you with me for the 

 next three glorious hours, into which a life-time 

 of exciting events were crowded, but let it be 

 in the spirit and not in the flesh, I pray, for 

 every pound avoirdupois will be a sore en- 

 cumbrance ere we help Anthony to administer 

 the "coup de grace" to that flying red form 

 that has just disappeared over the crest of Mill 

 Hill in the sunshine. Let us trot up the side 

 of the Chalk Water for a little and slip off to 

 the Deer Park as quickly as we can, for hounds 

 have started and will be there before us. Gently 



