174 STAG HUNTING WITH THE 



they re-crossed the water and streamed over 

 Withypool Common to the Barle above Land- 

 acre. Now here is an exceeding steep descent, 

 down which one perforce must go, for the great 

 hounds were plunging eagerly through the broad 

 brown stream of the Barle below, as if to cross 

 and take it up on the yonder bank. Leading 

 down with whip-thong through the reins, horses 

 slid down to the swampy green marsh beneath 

 at a rate which pulled their owners headlong 

 on hands and knees. It was excellent soft 

 falling, however, and the held were soon fording 

 the Barle and climbing the slopes of Landacre 

 Common as if for Xewland. Thundering along 

 now on the sound heather of the table-land 

 above, the hundreds of prancing hoofs struck 

 the firm surface of the moor with a very 

 different sound to that of the soft swishing 

 moor-grass just left. Bending to the right, 

 hounds entered the Blacklands Fields, and in 

 a short mile fresh found their deer. As we 

 scampered down Kitridge Lane approaching 

 Withypool we could hear Sidney's shrill view 

 halloa as the deer jumped in Woolpitts Copse 

 and raced back up the Blacklands Fields and 

 so made for the Barle above Brightworthy. 



The lane to Landacre seemed our shortest 

 way, and as we clattered down it we could view 

 the deer racing over Withypool Common as if 

 to regain Sheardon Hutch. Hounds faltered for 



