TRACKING DEER BY SLOT. 137 



finishes by six in the evening, and then 

 quits the fields for his home or inn. 



He has now got a general knowledge that 

 a stag is there ; but he has still to convince 

 himself by a second observation that the stag 

 will be in his harbour next day when the 

 hounds are brought; for during the inter- 

 vening night the stag will go out to feed, 

 and may chance not to return. He now 

 hopes that a slight shower may fall and cease 

 before one o'clock in the morning, to moisten 

 the surface, and so give good impressions. 

 He dreads most a heavy downpour after 

 dawn, which may wash out almost every 

 trace. A slight shower is so useful that he 

 can harbour at once ; if it is very dry 

 weather it may take half an hour to examine 

 a single field. 



The stag goes to his harbour directly it 

 is light, and soon after dawn the harbourer 

 starts for his second and final round. If the 



