164 RED DEER. 



over hounds they can rest and float. They 

 are so buoyant that they can cease striking 

 with their hoofs and yet remain with their 

 heads above the surface. Floating like this, 

 they rest and gather strength, while a hound 

 must continue using his feet, or drown. 



Though the waves be high, the stag 

 breasts them easily, and sometimes swims 

 so far as to be scarcely visible. After a while 

 the hounds generally return to the beach if 

 they find they cannot head the stag and turn 

 him. Once now and then a hound over- 

 taxes himself, or is buffeted too much by 

 the waves, and sinks, but not often. The 

 stags usually take to the sea in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Porlock Weir, and the boatmen 

 are always on the watch when they know 

 the hunt is up. 



Four or five fishermen are despatched for 

 the stag, and they row after him, helping 

 any hounds they may see getting exhausted 



