304 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hotind 



centre of the lane, for wliich we had to duck our heads and be 

 sharp about it, too. Dead sticks and hmbs blown from trees, 

 lay here and there across the track. Some of them crushed be- 

 neath our chariot wheels, others sent us in mid air above the 

 seat, wliich picked us up now and again in a way to loosen our 

 back hair. On we rode, hanging on for dear hfe. We saw 

 it all, at least, we believe we saw as much of the run as any 

 one mounted rider. 



Hallah! HallaH! We were driving more slowly now. At 

 last we saw the stag, not two rods away, moving slowly along 

 parallel to the way we were going. His head was still carried 

 erect, but not in the jaunty light air as at the beginning. His 

 crown of antlers was getting heavy. Thirty hounds were bark- 

 ing and baying in his wake. The end was near at hand. He 

 halts, throws uj) Iiis head in his same lordly f asliion, and stands 

 as motionless as a bronze statue. "Hallali! Hallali!" shout 

 the riders, "Hallah ! Hallali !" All fear seems to have left the 

 stag. He is entirely oblivious to everything and everybody 

 about liim. He looks as unconcerned as the great bronze stag 

 on the lawn in front of the chateau de Chambray. He seems 

 to be hstening for some far away sound in a dreamy sort of 

 way. In fact, he seemed, as no doubt he was, in a sort of cata- 

 leptic state, that a kind providence provides for all in the 

 face of death. This is Ms last stand. The Master inquires 

 who would like to dispatch him. A young man in scarlet and 

 wearing the hunt buttons of the Marquis de Chambray quickly 

 dismounts and walks straight up to the stag, who turns not nor 

 moves a muscle. The notes of the death song from the accom- 

 panying horns tell the great forest for miles about, that the 

 noble sjiirit of the stag has paid the debt. The stag is then 

 brought out on a beautiful gi-assy mound, where the roads 

 and highway of the forest meet, and the beautiful ceremony 

 about the carcase, as already described, takes place. 



Congratulations, a sandwich, a bit of cold meat, and bottles 



