220 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



to prevent their going. Usually some one on horse- 

 back headed off the party before it was well 

 under way. The cavalcade did not go very fast, 

 but the procession, led by the deer, was soon far 

 out of sight, trailing away over the hills. I have 

 known the dogs and the deer to be gone, on one 

 occasion, for five days, and so frequently were 

 they absent over night that I ceased to be con- 

 cerned, after a little experience. 



These escapades were immensely enjoyed by 

 both the deer and the dogs, and the deer came 

 home in the best of spirits and physical condition. 

 He found plenty of acorns and grass, doubtless, 

 and cool mountain water. But it was otherwise 

 with the dogs. Twenty-four hours spent without 

 food, and worse still, two or three days, produced 

 a great change in their appearance. They came 

 home foot-sore, and so thin and ravenous that 

 only very small portions of food could be given 

 them at considerable intervals. 



Not the least interesting part of such episodes 

 was the fact that the mastiff, Bull, was a dog kept 

 almost entirely to catch wounded deer. Seeing 

 one trying to escape when only crippled by a 

 ball. Bull, who was very fleet, would at once give 

 chase, run it down, seize it by the throat and 

 hold it until the arrival of the hunter. Yet this 

 same dog spent hours in playing with a little 

 fawn, and days with him on excursions to no one 



