140 STALKS ABROAD 



They stood promiscuously about in no particular 

 formation, whilst a very old gentleman, the exact 

 duplicate of Sir Walter Gilbey minus a top hat, 

 directed operations with a walking-stick. The head 

 forester, or such I took him to be, attired in green, 

 stood opposite a side entrance holding a wicker tray 

 of food. Parallel to this bamboo enclosure, on the 

 other side of the road, was the stone draw I have 

 already mentioned. Over the top of the palisades 

 I could see a moving mass of antlers and mouse- 

 coloured bodies. Three weeks previously their coats 

 had all been spotted, but now by their grey colouring 

 and the shaggy necks of the stags it was easy to see 

 that autumn was near. The gentleman in the green 

 coat waggled his tray enticingly ; Sir Walter Gilbey 

 ceased to waggle his stick ; the cervadors, or whatever 

 they ought to be called, flattened themselves along 

 the sides Qf the arena ; there was an expectant hush, 

 then with a spring and a bound a fine stag leaped 

 through the opening. For a second he stood with 

 his head up and his nose in the air. Secretly and 

 wickedly I longed for a rifle. ' What on earth," he 

 seemed to be saying, "is all the fuss about?" Then 

 with a rush and a flurry came a dozen more stags, 

 bursting through behind him ; the traitor in the green 

 coat vanished ; the door was shut, and they were 

 prisoners. 



Three of the stags had fine heads ; the remainder 

 ranged from old beasts going back to youngsters of 

 four or five. One very light fawn-coloured animal 



