154 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



the whole herd, which, after a moment's hesitation, moved 

 off through the thick covert. 



In the best of company, I of course brought up the rear 

 of the herd, together with several youngsters of my own 

 age ; behind us, as befitted him, paced the lord and master 

 buck ever the last to fly from danger. Our timid van- 

 guard of watchful does had almost reached the edge of the 

 jawdri patch, when a sudden flurry arose, and they leaped, 

 bounding and bucking in all directions. As I followed 

 the lead of my excellent mamma, in whose sound judgment 

 I had perfect faith, I saw my sterner parent trot straight 

 on with a curl of his lip. He was not going to share the 

 universal panic and on he went 



Then a sudden yell burst out behind him, and he gave 

 one mighty leap out of the field, struck something yielding, 

 intangible, and yet arresting, and came a tremendous 

 cropper, firmly entangled in a long net, as a chorus of 

 shouts rose from the netters. As I darted after the herd, 

 which had escaped to right and left, I have dim recollec- 

 tion of a furious thrashing of hoofs, and a grunting, 

 gurgling bellow, followed by much loud guffawing and 

 elated chattering. I don't think they killed him just then. 

 They usually make their victims walk home with them. 

 It is such a nuisance to carry them, you see, and matters 

 can be simplified by sewing up the victim's eyelids. 



It was not many hours after this that we caught sight 

 of a fine buck gazing fixedly at us in the distance, as 

 we all stood packed together in an open bit of ploughed 

 land. 



He paced in our direction, then halted and stared again 

 at a respectful distance, for I may mention that my late 

 parent had a pretty wide notoriety for savage exclusive- 

 ness. After following behind us awhile, this buck ventured 

 on closer inspection, and, somehow tumbling to the hang 

 of things, began to assert authority. He actually had the 

 effrontery to chase me from my mother's side and catch 



