i8o STAG-HUNTING ON EXMOOR. 



Water, a mile above the place where they first crossed 

 it. We have taken the opportunity to change horses 

 during the slow hunting, but there seems little prospect 

 of our wanting them. Still, patience. After casting 

 down some little way they hit the line out, and carry 

 it slowly up a combe towards the Deer Park. Another 

 hundred yards of slow hunting, and then a loud tally 

 proclaims a fresh find. In a moment the pack is racing 

 once more after our new-found hind, away on almost 

 the same line as in the morning, to the Shilletts. A 

 mile before reaching it, however, the old hounds cease 

 of a sudden to run with any spirit. Arthur notes the 

 fact and shakes his head. "There is more than one 

 deer in front of them," he says ; " I can tell that by the 

 hounds;" and looking forward we catch sight of our 

 hind now in company with two stags. A curse on all 

 stags rises to the lips of every man, presently turned 

 into a sigh of relief as two pair of antlers are seen 

 disappearing on the sky line, and a dark body turning 

 away from them. But hounds have divided before we 

 can catch them, and those after the stags are only 

 caught by taking advantage of a lucky turn. By the 

 time we have got them together again the horses of 

 the field proper are about beat. Mr. Snow left us 

 when we fresh found; he has enough work for his 



