150 Tally ho. 



panies the huntsman, who, with two or three couples 

 of houTi(ls known as " tufters/^ proceeds to rouse the 

 deer and drive him from the covers. This done, the 

 " tufters ^^ are whipped off, and after half or three- 

 quarters of an hour^s law, the pack are brought up 

 and laid on to the scent. 



It will be seen, therefore, that the duty of " harbour- 

 ing ^' is a most important part of the business ; and 

 it was evident that my informant was thoroughly up 

 to his work, being a man of great intelligence and a 

 close observer of the manners and customs of the deer 

 tribe. Profiting by his instructions and the experience 

 gained in a four hours^ ride through the lovely woods 

 of Pixton, I began to feel my confidence revived, and 

 returned to the Lion to arrange for my first day with 

 the Devon and Somerset, the meet on the following 

 morning being on the Quantock Hills, some 16 or 17 

 miles from Dulverton. Having sent my horse on by 

 rail to Milverton, saving thereby some ten or twelve 

 miles of road work, I started by the eight o'clock train, 

 the morning being beautifully bright and warm ; but 

 scarcely had I journeyed a mile from the station when 

 a terrific downpour of hail and rain overtook me, last- 

 ing for a quarter of an hour, after which the sun shone 

 forth bright and clear again, and a lovely ride through 

 pretty lanes, charming villages, especially Coombe 

 Florey, stopping at a cottage half hidden with crimson 

 roses and gigantic hydrangeas to inquire the way, and 

 the '^ meet " was reached, where a large number of 

 horsemen and many lookers-on in carriages were 

 assembled, bringing vividly to mind the scene of a 

 country race meeting, every carriage being provided 

 with a hamper, the contents of which were to be dis- 



