130 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



hunting the wild deer in England were one-handed 

 men.^ 



The last official of the Hunt whom it will be neces- 

 sary to notice, but certainly not the least important 

 in providing sport for the field, is "harbourer." In 

 summer or winter, rain or shine, it is his duty to be 

 on the ground before daylight. Perched immovably 

 in some convenient tree, he watches the deer return- 

 ing from their feeding -ground in the dusk of the 

 dawn. Having satisfied himself as to the presence 

 of such a deer as is required for hunting, stag or 

 hind, according to the season, he proceeds to follow 

 its " slot " to the wood where it has taken up its 

 abode for the day. Having ascertained that the 

 tracks lead into a certain covert, his next step is to 

 go round the same in order to make sure that the 

 deer has not emerged on the other side. If the wood 

 be a very large one, it will even be necessary for him 

 to cross it, so that when the huntsman comes to play 

 his part, he can show him where to throw his 

 "tufters" into covert so as to come at once upon 

 the deer. I was once an eye-witness to an amusing 

 scene between the huntsman and the harbourer. The 

 latter — not Miles — had reported a warrantable deer 

 in a certain covert, but the "tufters" had quite 

 failed to move him. At last the huntsman expressed 

 a doubt as to the accuracy of the harbouring. 



*'If your hounds can't find him, I can," was the 

 ready answer, and taking a few steps into the wood- 

 land the harbourer cracked his whip. At the sound, 

 and almost under his feet, a splendid "royal" sprang 

 up and crashed through the thicket. I ought per- 



1 Both have resigned since these words were written, and various 

 Masters have followed one another in both countries. 



