138 RED DEER. 



pit,' the river, or the sea itself, it is always 

 the water, as their friend, and last resource. 

 By day, if possible, they lie near a streamlet, 

 and drink always the purest water; they 

 visit ponds or brooks as they run, and come 

 in the end to the sea. 



Chasing the red stag requires much endu- 

 rance on the part of hounds and huntsman. 

 Thev first have to travel to the meet, then 

 there is the tufting or drawing the cover, 

 next the chase itself, frequently after that 

 the hounds swim out to sea ; and finally, 

 after all is over, they have miles to return to 

 their kennels. The huntsman, who is sixty- 

 seven, often rides a hundred miles in a day, 

 of course with two horses ; he is in the 

 saddle ten, twelve, and even fourteen hours. 

 His longest rides occur in the hind-hunting 

 season, but the work in the stag-hunting 

 season is often as trying on account of 

 the heat. So great a labour does the chase 

 of the red deer entail, and so great a physical 

 endurance does it demand ! But those who 



