86 A Sportsman at Large 



carry me, and was just in time to slip in a couple of barrels 

 which brought three more of the venturesome birds to book. 

 Good egg ! 



By this time I had had enough of it, for the shades of night 

 were approaching. 



" Time had passed quickly, the shadows were long, 

 The tit-lark had finished her evening song, 

 And the gloaming was now at hand. 

 I gazed at the tors so massive and bold 

 With the setting sun glinting their edges with gold 

 And lighting the purling stream." 



Heavy clouds were gathering on the horizon and coming up 

 swiftly against the wind. I sensed a severe thunder-storm, 

 so turned my back on Bellevor Tor and quickly descending its 

 slopes, I crossed The Dart. I clambered up Ridden Ridge. 

 Darkness came on apace, and the clouds lowered threateningly. 

 The rumbling of the thunder became more and more resonant. 

 Then at last the storm broke, just as I had recovered the old 

 " jack " hare, fastened him up with my handkerchief, and 

 slung him over my right shoulder ; my left being already 

 painfully pressed by the strap of my bulging game bag. 



The rain came down in sheets and torrents, so I had per- 

 force to cower under a friendly boulder, with Cockie Junior, 

 draggled and shivering, pressed closely to my knees. Dart- 

 moor is : 



" Far from pleasant in dirty weather, 

 With lightning flashing on stream and heather, 

 And the cold blast cutting you through." 



By the time the fury of the elements had somewhat sub- 

 sided it was pitch dark, and though the thunder was rumbling 

 in the distance in diminuendo, and the electric flashes were no 

 longer overhead, a steady and cold rain had set in. 



Well, a good drenching was inevitable, so there was nothing 

 for it but to make a move. As I rose from my stoney " hide " 

 I felt very cold, stiff and weary. I dared not sink the ridge 

 and trust myself on Ridden Mire in the dark. The alternative 

 was to follow along the ridge of the rise until it merged into 

 Cator Hill. This would entail a much longer journey ; but 

 safety first and always was my motto. 



Now, every step seemed to drag, and I was weary unto 



