220 STAGHUNTING ON EXMOOR 



the deer took a hurried bath, but found hounds 

 too close to him for hngering, and sped away 

 over the stiffly fenced enclosures towards Wash- 

 ford. Blind as they were, several banks had to 

 be negotiated, and that without loss of time, 

 for hounds were driving their sinking deer with 

 heads up, sterns down, and hackles rising in a 

 manner that meant business. Another mile from 

 field to field brought them to the Williton road, 

 where their deer had been viewed only a few 

 short minutes ahead of them. On over the 

 level tillage grounds until a short turn gave 

 them pause for a few minutes near a small 

 covert, called, I believe, Furze Close. Into this 

 they presently carried the line, and there was a 

 rousing fresh find. On before them speed the 

 deer, still able to bound lightly over the banks 

 and trim fences of the valley, but unable to 

 maintain the pace for long. Swinging round in 

 a ring to the corner of Furze Close, he came 

 to a final standstill in a small hurdled enclosure 

 in a disused lane. Here Mr. John Clatworthy, 

 of Exton, jumped off his horse, and took him 

 single-handed before the leading hounds could 

 reach him. Time from the lay on four hours, and 

 from the fresh find at Elworthy Barrows, one 

 hour and live minutes, this latter part particularly 

 fast and over a stiff and difficult country. He 

 had brows, trays and uprights only. 



