THE STAG 177 



Under these circumstances, the stag would not be 

 likely to abate any of his natural watchfulness, or 

 lose aught of his elasticity, wind, and resource. He 

 would pass the night in that light, and wakeful 

 sleep common to creatures accustomed to a rude 

 awakening; and shake off the dew-drops in the 

 morning, with the deliberation of one, too experi- 

 enced in danger to be flurried by the scents and 

 sounds coming down the wind. 



There is no reason, that I could ever discover, 

 why all the keenness of the chase should be confined 

 to the hunter, and the dogs. More probably, it is 

 shared in an equal degree by the quarry, when it is 

 really wild, and not confined, and cowed, and tamed 

 till all the ancient spirit has gone out of it. The 

 fierce gratification of gaining on the pursued is 

 only equalled by that of gaining on the pursuer. 

 This consideration humanizes all real sport. If so 

 the deer that day had the best of it. 



'Twere long to tell what steeds gave o'er, 

 As swept tlie chase through Cambus-More ; 

 What reins were tightened in despair, 

 When rose Ben Ledi's height in air ; 

 Who flagged upon Bochastle's heath, 

 Who shunned to stem the flooded Teith. 

 Few were the stragglers, following far, 

 That reached the Lake of Vennachar ; 

 And, when the Brig of Turk was won, 

 The headmost horseman rode alone. 

 12 



