DEVON AND SOMERSET. 297 



graceful necks, a stamp follows from the 

 forefoot of the oldest hind, a rush and a scurry 

 to the adjoining fence, and then if it be stiff 

 and blind and the drop beyond be deep and 

 difficult a tragedy may happen. The crumbling 

 bank top loosened by frost, occasionally gives 

 way as the nimble feet tread lightly upon its 

 slippery surface, one of the long slender limbs 

 slips down perhaps between the tough beeehen 

 stretchers, there is a convulsive struggle and 

 the beautiful animal hangs head downwards 

 with a broken limb, imprisoned and helpless 

 and marked for death. In the darkness the 

 agriculturist plods his homeward way all 

 unsuspecting of what has happened two or 

 three hundred yards away in the inky blackness. 

 Satisfied that he has driven the marauders from 

 his father's crop for the night, he passes that 

 way next day to note the ravages their teeth 

 had caused, and at the fence spies the place 

 where thev ran and leaped to make their 

 escape, and on looking at the yonder side 

 sees that some great struggle has taken place. 

 Patches cf red brown fleck abound on the 

 stones and sticks, the face of the bank is 

 plastered with mud, beaten and flattened, but 

 the crippled quadruped has dragged herself 

 by this time into the depths of some leafy 

 jungle far away. Here by good fortune the 

 hounds mav come at some near date and put 



