DEVON AND SOMERSET. 167 



bring him to his feet again, and on we go. 

 There's the master with a large following bearing 

 off to the right for the Driver fields, and there 

 are the hounds on the left racing up Goat Hill, 

 with their heads pointing for Pinkery. Let us 

 go on with them, for fear the stag should be 

 soiling in the pond, and should betake himself 

 to Woolhanger or Parracombe. Here they come 

 across though, heading straight for Chains 

 Barrow ; now the right contingent will be saved. 

 Over into Long Chains Combe they go, stringing 

 out already by sheer speed ; now down the 

 combe and into Hoar Oak, now up again and 

 into Farlev. Up once more at a slant amongst 

 the sound heather of Brendon Common towards 

 Dry Bridges. Patter across the Lynton Road, 

 the only firm ground since the road at the ford 

 by Driver. There must have been several falls 

 behind us bv this time ; Sir William Karslake, 

 Miss Batt, Mr. Leney, Mr. de Las Casas, Mr. 

 S. N. Quicke, and several others show signs of 

 having bitten the peaty mud ; telescoped hats 

 and dirty backs are the order of the day, for 

 the pace is a cracker, and the great hounds 

 keep sailing on as if they never meant to stop, 

 with no semblance of check or turn. 



Awav thev go towards Lankcombe ; 'tis 

 sounder going now, down this long two-mile slope 

 of heather, and we must be down at the Badg- 

 worthy Water vonder as soon as the hounds, 



