ANTLER AND FERN. 75 



times turn and face them in his path, know- 

 ing that he can deal with them. 



One day a fine hound in advance like this 

 was suddenly confronted by the stag, who, 

 with a blow of the formidable brow-point, 

 ripped the hound open so that his entrails 

 touched the ground. The huntsman, coming 

 up, dismounted, and with his usual presence 

 of mind replaced the intestines in the gaping 

 wound ; by good fortune they were not 

 broken. He had no thread or needle, and 

 could not get any to sew up the wound, but 

 he managed to fasten it together with pins. 

 In this condition the hound was carried 

 home, and the wound properly sewn up. 

 He recovered quickly, and in a very short 

 time was running again with the pack as if 

 nothing had occurred. A similar accident 

 happened to another hound, only, in this case 

 a house being near, a needle and thread were 

 procured, and the wound sewn at once. 

 This hound, too, got well, and was running 

 about in a fortnight. The good condition 



