i2o RED DEER. 



variably — to cast the hounds off from pursu- 

 ing him, the stag drives out his friend that he 

 may be hunted in his place. Failing in this, 

 if the tufters return, and are not drawn off 

 after his friend, the stag will by turns attack 

 every other stag in the wood that he can 

 master, and force them one by one to break 

 cover, hoping that the hounds may forget 

 him and pursue them. Yet more desperate, 

 he will presently drive out the hinds in 

 order to avert his fate. 



Huntsman and harbourer ride to and fro 

 as best they may ; they know what the tufters 

 have roused by the sound. A hind steals away 

 silently ; a stag makes a great noise with his 

 antlers against the branches. They do not 

 ride together, but apart, and cannot see each 

 other ; but the harbourer is aware what the 

 huntsman has seen, or is doing, by the vary- 

 ing sounds of his horn. Holding the horn to 

 the side of his mouth, the huntsman gives 

 short, quick notes if a stag is up and away 

 before him. If either of them has reason 



