THE HUXTED STAG. 137 



Swansea, on the opposite coast, drowned 

 after a long combat with the waves. How 

 far a stag would swim if he started fresh, 

 without being wearied from a long run, is 

 uncertain, but certainly he could get over a 

 great distance. 



The boatmen receive a guinea for bring- 

 ing in a stag, and half a guinea for a hind. 

 A hound named 'Credulous' swam after 

 a stag, seized him b}^ the ear, and, partly 

 mounted on the stag's back, was drawn 

 along a considerable way, sometimes press- 

 ing the staff's head under water. ' Credulous ' 

 in one season was twice struck by antlers, 

 once in the breast, and again in the hip, 

 and yet he ran as staunchly as ever. It is 

 thought that the stags in the woods by the 

 sea swim sometimes in it for their pleasure 

 at night. They do in fresh water, bathing 

 in a pool, if they can find one, in the evening 

 as they come out of cover before they feed. 

 Water is a passion with them. The brook, 

 the mere streamlet, the pond, or ' soiling- 



