8 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



wide on our left, being only two together, were in a 

 worse predicament. Here is "Pidgon's"^ vivid de- 

 scription of what befell the pair : 



"... We see them (the hounds) racing over the 

 Turfties pointing for the Cut, a moorland crossing 

 between Lydford and Post Bridge. 'Tis a rough bit 

 of country ; rough at all times, but terrible now in 

 the hard frost. . . . Shall we try a record run over the 

 Turfties ? There's a frost and they may keep up ? 

 Yes, say we ; but yonder hill by Dart Head with 

 its more than a dozen dismounted riders should have 

 been a warning. But it isn't, and we only think of 

 it after, and ' after wit is good for nothing.' Our 

 blood is up and we dash on a bogland where the peat 

 stands in beds of ten or twelve feet in depth. The 

 first ten yards finishes the gallop, the second the 

 trot, and the third the walk ; then to dismount and 

 lead, and then horses lose their heads, break the 

 crust of the peat, and the leading mare is stuck fast 

 with all four legs, up to her belly in the holding earth. 

 Now, 'tis off with the saddle, off with the coats, a 

 pull to and a dig round each leg, and, with coat 

 underneath, one struggle frees her a little ; then a 

 readjustment of coats, then another effort by the 

 gallant beast, and she stands trembling on the bog, 

 and again the old grey moor has beaten us and 

 proved herself impassable. . . ." * 



The danger of a bog lies in the risk of being struck 

 or trampled on by a plunging horse. 



From the nature of the country and the breed of 

 foxes to the stamp of hound required is a natural 

 transition. Here we are at once on debatable 

 ground. There are those who hold that the best- 



1 Our local " Brooksby " : the late Mr. J. D. Prickman. 

 * WeeUrn Morning News, 28th December, 1892. 



