THE DEER IIOUXD. 81 



where the stalker sees a stag about a mile off. He imme- 

 diately prostrates himself on the ground, and in a second 

 the rest follow his example. We will not follow all the 

 different manoeuvres of the deer-stalker and his fol- 

 lowers, but bring them at once near the unconscious 

 stag. After performing a very considerable circuit, 

 moving sometimes forward and sometimes backward, 

 the party arrive at length at the back of a hillock ou 

 the opposite side of which the stalker said in a whisper 

 the stag was lying, and that he was not distant a hun- 

 dred yards.. The whole party immediately moved 

 forward in silence and breathless expectation, with the 

 dogs in front, straining in the slips. On reaching the 

 top of the hillock a full view of the noble stag presented 

 itself, who, having heard the footsteps, sprang on his 

 legs, and was staring at his enemies at the distance of 

 about sixty yards. 



" The dogs were slipped ; a general halloa burst from 

 us all, and the stag wheeling round set off at full speed 

 with Buskar and Bruin straining after him. The brown 

 figure of the deer, with his noble antlers laid back, 

 contrasted with the light colour of the dogs, stretching 

 along the dark heath, presented one of the most ex- 

 citing scenes that it is possible to imagine. The deer's 

 first attempt was to gain some rising ground to the left 

 of the spot where we stood, and rather behind us, but 

 being closely pursued by the dogs, he soon found that 

 his only safety was in speed ; and (as a deer does not 

 run well up-hill, nor, like a roe, straight down hill), 

 on the dogs approaching him he turned and almost re- 

 traced his footsteps, taking, however, a steeper line of 

 descent than the one by which he ascended. Here the 

 chase became more interesting ; the dogs pressed him 



