TRACKING DEER BY SLOT. 145 



off after his friend, the stag will by turns 

 attack every other stag in the wood that he 

 can master, and force them one by one to 

 break cover, hoping that the hounds may 

 forget him and pursue them. Yet more 

 desperate, he will presently drive out the 

 hinds in order to avert his fate. 



Huntsman and harbourer ride to and fro 

 as best they may ; they know what the tufters 

 have roused by the sound. A hind steals 

 away silently ; a stag makes a great noise 

 with his antlers against the branches. They 

 do not ride together, but apart, and cannot see 

 each other ; but the harbourer is aware what 

 the huntsman has seen, or is doing, by the 

 varying sounds of his horn. Holding the horn 

 to the side of his mouth, the huntsman gives 

 short, quick notes if a stag is up and away 

 before him. If either of them has reason 

 to suppose that the stag has gone, from the 

 noise in the bushes, he shouts " Forwards ! " 



