126 RED DEER. 



particular copse or part of a wood a stag 

 has gone to lie for the day, and where the 

 hounds will find him. It must be a runnable 

 stag, or warrantable, a term in its strict 

 meaning indicating a stag of five years, with 

 not less than two points on top at the upper 

 end of the antler. Occasionally a stag is 

 run at four years, but five is the right age. 

 The "harbourer" consequently has two main 

 questions to determine, and to determine 

 with absolute accuracy ; first, he has to 

 choose a stag of the proper age, and next 

 to fix on the exact spot where that stag will 

 be at a given time. The "harbourer" must 

 not say he "thinks" a stag is in such and 

 such a place, nor that he " thinks " he is 

 runnable. There are perhaps three hundred 

 gentlemen on horseback waiting eagerly for 

 the sport to begin ; the pack is shut up for 

 the moment in a farmyard, having travelled 

 over from the kennels ; the Master and the 



