128 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



the pond discoursing sweetly under the trees, 

 and then alas it is "Ware buck! Ware doe! 

 Ware fawn!" from a score of throats, as 

 Grappler and Prompter break from the red 

 deer's line and race amongst the dappled herd 

 before their eyes, leading some of the veterans 

 astray by their example. Ah ! you puppies ! 

 Now, Anthony, read the riot act ! Quick, Sidney 

 and Barber, drop your thongs into 'em ; this 

 will never do ! Now down to Newbridge and 

 let us try fresh ground, away from all this 

 venison. There's the line right enough, just 

 above Newbridge, over the river and road and 

 up into Eller's Wood ! Now we must canter 

 up the fields outside the wood and be ready 

 for 'em 'ere they break awav to Combe. How 

 they dwell in the wood ! The deer must have 

 been doubling about, drawing for others. Here 

 they come though, through the fence, and there 

 is a view halloa above the upper Combe Plantation. 

 Hounds are faltering on the clay pastures, so 

 Anthony lifts them to the four cross ways, and 

 a little below on the Gulland road is shown 

 the place where the deer has passed, nearlv an 

 hour before. Now they are off again, over the 

 fields! Here's a flight of hurdles! Crack! 

 crack ! in two places at once ! Ah, mv friends, 

 if you can't clear them you might just as well 

 pull one up and walk through ; you will have 

 plenty of company. Now down the hill into a 



