DEVON AND SOMERSET. 155 



" nott " stag of great size. Meanwhile the hunted 

 stag was crossing Hookway Hill for the Weir 

 Water, with hounds not far behind him. As 

 he rose to the skyline on Mill Hill, he stood at 

 gaze for an instant, showing his spreading horns 

 against the blue and then bore away for the 

 Forest at best speed, pointing for Three Combes 

 Foot. Up Stowford Bottom go the hounds, and 

 Anthony stops them at the top to give the 

 stragglers time for a very welcome breathing 

 space, and then they begin to race again by. 

 way of Manor Allotment to the Badgworthy 

 Water under Clannacombe. Now thev are 

 toiling up Badgworthy Hill opposite ; we must 

 get over, and that quickly, or we shall be 

 handsomely left behind, for they are bearing 

 away for Brendon Two Gates with sterns down 

 and in hot earnest. As they rise again from the 

 head-springs of the Hoccombe Water there are 

 four or five deer before them living across the 

 road at Brendon Two Gates, but the stag is not 

 with them ; he has played the old, old trick of 

 changing, and done it with great success, for 

 nowhere can he be seen or heard of, and 

 hounds break away at such a speed after the 

 fresh deer that they are not stopped till Sidney 

 gets to them far down the Farley Water a mile 

 and a-half away. Two couple and a-half divide 

 upon a strapping great hind which heads right 

 away for Pinkery, but come back eventually to 



