196 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



scent to draw them on, all racing for a place. 

 Past Dalacombe and Landacre, and down to 

 water under Sheardon Hutch. See ! yonder he 

 goes, up the Sheardon meadows. And with 

 the same, hounds fling forward from the water, 

 needing no help and waiting for none. 



Away up the level hams, and away past 

 Horsen ford, away over Great and Little Wool- 

 combe, up the valley past Cow Castle, and past 

 Flexburrow^, over Halsecombe, hounds on the 

 southern side of the Barle and the held on the 

 northern, sound short turf under foot, and the 

 cool breath of the north wind against one all 

 the time. So great is the pace that the stag 

 cannot keep long out of view. Simonsbath 

 heaves in sight, and he still strides straight on 

 by Mount Pleasant, with Halsecombe Plantation 

 just below him, then drops over the South 

 Molton road, and seeks an insecure shelter in 

 Cornham Brake. Mute and panting, hounds 

 enter the dark green fir covert. A few moments 

 pass and then they fresh find him, push him 

 out from the end nearest Cornham, whence he 

 backs it over the meadows to the lower end, 

 only to be again pushed out forthwith, and to 

 fly over Bale Water and the Challacombe road 

 and away up the sunlit fields between Dure- 

 down and Limecombe. Now comes the tug of 

 war ; horses have come so fast that the 

 ascending slope, though gentle, begins to tell. 



