HIND-HUNTING. 179 



deer has taken by the point for which she 

 was making. He sends part of the pack 

 across the water, so that the hounds are on 

 both sides, and run along the banks, fre- 

 quently entering and swimming out to the 

 rocks, of which the rivers of Exmoor Barle 

 and Exe are full. The tops, of the rocks 

 are often above the surface, and at these they 

 sniff, lest the deer should have landed on 

 them temporarily. A stag has been known 

 to hide himself completely in the water, 

 under a projecting bush, with nothing but 

 his nose out to breathe, and has been passed 

 by the hounds. Here, again, the intelligence 

 of man comes to their aid ; the huntsman 

 keeps a keener watch than his pack. 



As hind-hunting is in winter, the river is 

 often full, and then there is no doubt which 

 direction she has taken ; as swimming in the 

 current takes her and carries her with it, 

 and she floats down in the centre of the rush- 



