THE HUNTED STAG. 167 



They first have to travel to the meet, then 

 there is the tufting or drawing the cover, 

 next the chase itself, frequently after that 

 the hounds swim out to sea; and finally, 

 after all is over, they have miles to return 

 to their kennels. The huntsman, who is 

 sixty-seven, often rides a hundred miles in 

 a day, of course with two horses ; he is in 

 the saddle ten, twelve, and even fourteen 

 hours. His longest rides occur in the hind- 

 hunting season, but the work in the stag- 

 hunting season is often as trying on account 

 of the heat. So great a labour does the 

 chase of the red deer entail, and so great a 

 physical endurance does it demand ! But 

 those who do not desire to labour so hard 

 can see much of the run without any special 

 stress of riding by keeping to the upper 

 ground, and crossing the chord of the arc 

 which the stag travels. 



He usually runs in a circle towards the 



