DEVON AND SOMERSET. 1S7 



stones and sun-baked heath, thev have harder 

 work, and we must be careful not to press 

 them. 



Presently thev check, but the stag has been 

 viewed crossing the sky-line near the Beacon, 

 and thev presentlv own it on the old heather 

 and head straight into Allercombe. Now watch 

 them, good sirs, and vou shall see a sight which 

 shall be graven on your mind's eye for all your 

 days. Through the fern and whortleberry they 

 filter down in twos and threes right to the 

 bottom of the goyle, where stands a leafy birch 

 bush, and from there comes striding out the 

 hunted stag, wearv and stiff, but not beaten vet, 

 for his spreading head is still carried proudly 

 and high. Away into HoUowcombe he goes, 

 with hounds straining after him down through 

 the cool leafy depths, where the cry rings out 

 fierce and loud, then up the red dusty roadway 

 for a space to Webber's Post, and down once 

 more to the fern and furze and fir trees on 

 Wytchanger Ball and Luccombe Alters. Here 

 he shakes them all, but is viewed stealing away 

 amongst the thick furze just above Ford, and 

 here, as soon as hounds can be got together, 

 he is fresh found once more. Game still, he 

 gallops to and fro, and would beat hounds even 

 now were it not for the huntsman's aid, who at 

 every turn and twist still holds them forward. 

 Never were hounds more wearv than now, what 



