ANTLER AND FERN. 91 



of the stag's muscular neck. So long as he 

 can face the hounds with these, with rocks 

 at his side, or a precipice, so that they can 

 only run in in front, he can defy them. Now 

 and then it happens during a long run that 

 the main part of the pack is distanced by 

 one or two swift hounds. They leave the 

 pack behind and pursue unsupported. When 

 a stag becomes aware of this he will some- 

 times turn and face them in his path, know- 

 ing that he can deal with them. 



One day a fine hound in advance like this 

 was suddenly confronted by the stag, who, 

 with a blow of the formidable brow-point, 

 ripped the hound open so that his entrails 

 touched the ground. The huntsman, coming 

 up, dismounted, and with his usual presence 

 of mind replaced the intestines in the gap- 

 ing wound ; by good fortune they were not 

 broken. He had no thread or needle, and 

 could not get any to sew up the wound, but 



