A WET, WILD GALLOP 459 



and another, is no unexciting experience. Nay, it was de- 

 lightful, inchiding as it did the most stirring phases of 

 riding in chase of the wild fallow deer. The dash of the 

 tufters, the separating of the buck from his herd, the laying- 

 on of the pack, the fierce drive of the leading couples, and 

 the ceaseless work of the huntsman to keep his pack to- 

 gether and upon one quarry, these go to make up the 

 interest, the charm, the business, and the science of a form 

 of wild sport that is to be seen only in the New Forest. 



Thursday, April 25, came in with heavy ram, which, 

 added to the downpour of Wednesday, brought the Forest 

 to its happiest condition for riding ; though, as I learn, 

 such excessive overflow of water is apt to militate against 

 the successful hunting of the buck. With water every- 

 where, he can, as soon as he gets blown, find endless 

 opportunity of puzzling hounds by obliterating trail and 

 scent. 



At noon the rainclouds had drifted off ; and we 

 splashed the last mile to the meet in no worse discomfort 

 than may be caused by the uplift of muddy water which 

 your horse on such occasions often bestows freely on 

 yourself and your comrades alongside. 



The Royal Oak at Fritham was the fixture — one usually 

 named for the occasional hunt of such red deer as still 

 remain about the north of the Forest and its adjacent woods. 

 But to-day was for the fallow buck, of which khubber had 

 been brought that some were in the vicinity of Shultze's 

 Powder Mills. And thither we wended our way ; Allen 

 having two couples of trusty tufters in leash. 



At these Powder Mills is a small reservoir, of which it 

 is related that during a lull in the last frost a fallow buck, 

 while running before hounds, took to the ice and crossed 

 in safety — a most unusual feat, I am told. The ice also 

 being in a very shaky condition, it was fortunate that the 

 executive were able to stop hounds : and, taking them 

 round, they soon afterwards killed their buck. 



On the present occasion the tufters, directly they were 

 slipped, took up the line from the very slot ; and, throwing 

 their tongues loudly, led us at once into a network of holly 

 bushes. Wriggling through this as best we could, we soon 



