124 STALKS ABROAD 



watched him another and still smaller stag walked 

 out of a bush a few yards above him and proceeded to 

 thrash a tree in the approved manner of his elders. 

 He would get the stem it was a small pitch-pine 

 between his horns and would then rub it vigorously 

 up and down, varying the performance by rubbing his 

 neck against it. I have seen stags do this latter 

 motion elsewhere ; it appears to afford them satis- 

 faction during the rutting season. 



The stag who had first roared could hear, but not 

 see, him. He rose to his feet, cocked his head on one 

 side, and listened, but apparently could not make up 

 his mind as to the next event on the programme. 

 Then he gave a tentative and somewhat subdued 

 roar. At this, the smaller stag stopped his warlike 

 demonstrations on the tree, cocked his head on one 

 side, and also listened. They were too far to watch 

 closely without a glass, so as my eye was getting 

 rather tired, I took out a newspaper with some lunch 

 in it before the following denouement. When my 

 preparations were complete and I looked again, they 

 had both vanished. This was somewhat annoying, as 

 I anticipated some amusement should they encounter 

 each other ; as my guide had disappeared I beguiled 

 the time by reading the newspaper. I discovered 

 one side to be devoted to a most enthralling serial 

 whose title I forget. It was all about a lovely lady 

 of the chorus, at whose feet all London was 

 kneeling, including the hero, a noble lord. The 

 latter's valet had just entered noiselessly, as such 



