DEVON AND SOMERSET. 219 



sea below and the vale of Taunton Deane 

 stretching away to the south-east, there was just 

 time to look round and think of the landscape 

 while Anthony cast downwards amongst the fern 

 and gorse. In the fold of Elworthy Combe 

 under some stunted thorns a trickle of water 

 had tempted the hunted deer, and Regal gave 

 evidence in solemn tones to the still fresh scent. 

 Lingering among the fern lower down, the deer 

 now heard the dread approach of his pursuers, 

 safely left behind, as he thought, nearly four 

 hours ago, and many miles away. Springing up, 

 he was quickly viewed, and began to gallop 

 over Mr. Notley's domain of Combe Sydenham, 

 apparently still strong and fresh. So much 

 patient hunting, however, was not to be thrown 

 awav ; hounds were after him in a trice, and at 

 a very different pace from that shown hitherto. 

 With a cry that made the welkin ring again, 

 hounds dashed through the tall trees, and swept 

 down over the rabbit-burrowed slopes of Combe 

 Sydenham, where an awkward descent awaited 

 the field, with an angry wasp's nest in the most 

 uncomfortable part. Then came a heart-breaking 

 climb to the confines of Nettlecombe and another 

 descent brought the field to the civilisation and 

 the high farming of the valley beneath Sir Walter 

 Trevelyan's ancestral home. In a stream, of 

 which I do not know the name, running down 

 from Nettlecombe Court to the village below, 



