CHAPTER VIII. 



The Boldness of the Exmoor Deer — Their Noiseless 

 Tread — -The Tufting Pony — Dust — The Madding 

 Crowd — The Countisbury Cliffs — Sunset on the 

 Sea. 



The greater part of 

 the field of course do 

 their day's hunting 

 on one horse, and 

 long distances are 

 covered in the course 

 of the many hours 

 which go to the full 

 complement of a 

 day's pursuit of the 

 wild stag. Horses are naturally by no means 

 at their best when the herd is in its " pride 

 of grease," as the ancient chroniclers have it, 

 but still they contrive to carry heavy weights 

 for a great many hours over much rough 

 country, and are much sustained no doubt by 

 the bracing nature of the air at the great 

 heights above the sea where the deer are mostly 

 to be found, and also by the springy nature of 

 the foothold, which as long as it be firm enough, 

 is of the very best possible description for 



