132 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



herself and comes on again presently, but little 

 the worse. Meanwhile we have scampered past 

 the head of Longstones combe, and sunk to the 

 Danesbrook at the corner of Lyshwell Wood. 

 Here are hounds in the water ; they are at 

 fault, and a good thing too, for the path in 

 Shircombe Brake is steep, and the pace has 

 made horses blow already. Anthony casts his 

 beauties up stream, and that failing, tries the 

 Cloggs side of the wood and hits the line 

 again. Awav we gallop, through Shircombe 

 courtyard and away to Cloggs Down ; hounds 

 were in Devonshire a moment since, now they 

 are in Somerset once more. Spur how we 

 may, they are still gaining on us ; they are 

 fairly racing now, over the moory surface 

 of Hawkridge Plain and away by Porchester 

 Post ; how they speak on the wet ground ; 

 Here's an obstacle ; a yawning watercourse, 

 some four feet over, then a high bank with 

 some ancient thorn boughs laid on it, and 

 perhaps a ditch on the far side. Mr. J. 

 Clatworthy is on his feet in a trice and scales 

 the rampart, but the gallant roan cob is a trifle 

 too quick for him and hurries him rudely into 

 the next field on hands and head. No damage 

 is done however, and away he goes, leading 

 the van as usual. Now we are on Withypool 

 Common ; and there are the hounds crossing 

 the two Knighton combes below and bending 



