DEVON AND SOMERSET. 165 



while a veritable chorus of view halloas rang out 

 from all the hilltops around as he was viewed 

 at first one point and then another. The master 

 stopped the tufters in one of Mr. Thome's 

 fields and sent Anthony for the pack at their 

 temporary kennel at Higher Hole, and shortly 

 before one o'clock they were laid on the foil, 

 and the run of the season had commenced. 



Now, come with me, my readers. Let us 

 trot quietlv up this nice cool shady path that 

 runs up the combe beneath the wood. 'Tis 

 moist and springy here ; the dew still lies 

 thicklv in the shade ; we have a gentle ascent 

 to Whitefield. Down this way; this is better 

 than joining the madding crowd that ere now 

 is pounding along up the Queen's highway by 

 the Poltmiore Arms and all round to Five 

 Barrows Cross, and so back to the head of the 

 Down. Here come the hounds just above us 

 on the right in the wood, and here's a good 

 sportsman and deer preserver from the Bray 

 Vallev who has just seen the stag pass along. 

 Now pull your horse into a trot; we must get 

 away well with them, or they will beat us on 

 the ascent. Now here's the water; let's watch 

 them for a moment. Ah ! that's it, Michael, 

 he soiled there, did he? Here the waters part, 

 but Michael never falters ; up Sherracombe he 

 goes, splashing from pool to pool. Rallywood 

 comes third, and the leading two couples draw 



