DAYS IN THE WOODS 263 



the faintest outline of him in the dark. Again he 

 stopped, and our hearts seemed to stand still also 

 with expectation ; another step must have brought 

 him out almost within reach of me, when suddenly 

 there was a tremendous crash ! He had smelt us, 

 and was off with a cracking of dead limbs, rattling 

 of horns, smashing of branches, which made the 

 woods resound again. Disappointed we were, but 

 not unhappy, for the first duty of the hunter is 

 to drill himself into that pecuHar frame of mind 

 which enables a man to exult when he is success- 

 ful, and to accept ill-luck and defeat without 

 giving way to despondency. 



It was by this time pitch dark, and there was no 

 use therefore in calling any more. So in a few 

 minutes we were seated round a bright cheerful 

 little fire ; the kettle was boiled, and we consoled 

 ourselves with what story-books call " a frugal 

 meal " of bread and tea, and then reclining on 

 our beds of bracken, with our backs to the fire, 

 smoked and chatted till sleep began to weigh our 

 eyelids dovm. I have observed that in most 

 accounts of travel and hunting adventure people 

 are represented as lying with their feet to the 

 fire. That is a great blunder. Always keep your 

 shoulders and back warm, and you will be warm 



