DEVON AND SOMERSET. 205 



wonder if they've struck my line. I'd better 

 be off on the quiet while I can ; they seem to 

 be all over the place. Here goes for Horner, 

 but I shall take it easy, for it's such a plaguey 

 long way, and I don't care for much galloping 

 in the middle of the day. Oh ! bother it all 

 here they come ! Here's his lordship blowing 

 and blowing as if he never saw a stag before. 

 I wish he'd let me alone ! I shall go quicker 

 and get right away as fast as ever I can. 

 Where's that easv rack in the fence ? It's never 

 just where you w^ant it. This one will have to 

 do, I suppose ; now I'll show" them a clean pair 

 of heels, and they can hunt about in the Deer- 

 park all day if they please. This is better now, 

 down hill and a bit of a breeze to meet one. 

 Here's the Chalk Water ; I'll have one good 

 souse and on again. That was good and makes 

 one feel better. I think the easiest way will be 

 by Hoscombe, for I don't want to go on climbing 

 any more hills if I can help it. I wonder if there 

 are any deer on Acmead. No, I don't see a horn 

 or an ear, and with the scent like it is I could 

 twig 'em half-a-mile off going against the wind 

 like this. No, not one ! I must keep going, for 

 you never know what men will be up to in the 

 middle of the day. Let's look back. Ho ! here 

 they come after me then to the middle of Stowey 

 allotments. There they all stand in a great fiock 

 and there are some hounds standing with thenic 



