i8o STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



deer crossed the foil, but no matter, Anthony 

 held forward at a canter. Under Lilley combe 

 he hit the line, and then we knew that hounds 

 must be gaining on their deer. Twas but 

 thirty-two minutes from Bagley Combe to the 

 Weir Water, and another twenty-five minutes 

 driving at full speed forced this game old stag 

 by Lillycombe and North Common and from 

 Hollacombe Wood to Oare and Oare Common, 

 and to bay in the Badgworthy Water at Cloud. 

 Beating the water down to Malmsmead Bridge, 

 he made a tough fight of it ere he was taken 

 at last at two o'clock. He proved to be an 

 extremely heavy stag with two bony knobs 

 beneath the skin where his horns should have 

 been. 



The second day of the season of 1898 proved 

 to be a lucky one. Only the year before, the 

 first Hawkcombe Head meet produced a great 

 moorland run, and now again on the same 

 occasion in the following year have those who 

 were out no reason indeed to complain. This 

 run too, took place in spite of a most unfavour- 

 able day, for the strong, hot southerly wind 

 soon sw^ept away scent once the damp moor- 

 land surface was left behind, and hounds, 

 horses, and men all suffered alike from the 

 heat and dust. To add to this the stag that 

 was before hounds was a very stout five or 

 six-year-old deer of the old forest sort, game 



